CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many  (a) special advisers and  (b) press officers are employed by his Department at each civil service pay grade.

John Penrose: With regards to the number of special advisers employed by the Department, I refer the hon. Member to the list of special adviser appointments published by the Prime Minister on 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 33-34W.
	The Department employs 11 press officers. The breakdown by civil service pay grade is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Grade  Number of press officers 
			 Grade A(1) 3 
			 Grade B(2) 8 
			 Total 11 
			 (1) Former Grade 6/7. (2) Former SEO/HEO/HEO (D) and equivalent grades.

Departmental Official Hospitality

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what budget his Department has allocated for entertainment, including alcohol, in each of the next three years.

John Penrose: The 2010-11 budget, inherited from the previous Government, allocated £155, 478 to hospitality, which includes entertainment costs. We are now looking at ways to significantly reduce this. Similar budgets for the following two years will not be set until after the next Spending Review in the autumn.
	All expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Football

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will take steps to encourage each professional football club to allow a representative of a registered football supporters' trust to sit on its board of directors.

Hugh Robertson: While it is for the football authorities to run our national game, the Government will encourage the Football Association, premier league, and football league to work closely together to improve the governance and regulation of the national game. This includes exploring better ways to involve supporters in their local clubs.

Football: South Africa

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether  (a) he,  (b) other Ministers in his Department and  (c) officials of his Department will attend the World cup in South Africa.

Hugh Robertson: I attended the England  v . USA match and travelled economy class on both legs of the journey. No officials attended. The Secretary of State will attend the England  v. Algeria match and travel economy class for both journeys. The Secretary of State will be accompanied by one official. I met with various members of the FIFA family during my visit to discuss England's bid for the 2018 World cup, one of the Government's top priorities for sport. The Secretary of State is planning to do the same.
	Should England progress to the quarter finals and beyond, as I very much hope they will, we will look again at what attendance is necessary.

Gambling

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what  (a) telephone calls,  (b) meetings and  (c) correspondence (i) he and (ii) other Ministers and officials in his Department have had with representatives of the gambling industry since 11 May 2010.

John Penrose: In the course of the usual engagement with our sectors I, and officials in my Department, have met and spoken with a wide range of organisations and individuals since 11 May. This includes representatives of the gambling industry. However, we do not keep central records of all telephone calls, meetings or correspondence with industry and other representatives.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Employment and Support Allowance

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will take steps to track and monitor claimants who apply for the employment and support allowance and are found fit to work; and for what reasons these claimants are not currently tracked and monitored.

Chris Grayling: The Department are planning research to investigate the paths of individuals who are found fit for work, whose claim for employment and support allowance is withdrawn or whose claim is ended before they receive a decision at the work capability assessment. The Department is also developing administrative data and management information to routinely monitor the outcomes for all employment and support allowance claimants, including those that moved off the benefit.

Employment and Support Allowance

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes he plans to make to the employment and support allowance system; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The Department published an internal review of the Work Capability Assessment in March 2010. This review outlined possible areas for change-we are currently considering its findings and recommendations.
	We will reassess everyone on incapacity benefits to see if they are fit for work. Those who are capable of work will be moved onto jobseeker's allowance. People who need more support while they prepare for work will get that help on employment and support allowance.
	We have committed to introducing the work programme by the summer of 2011. The full scope and shape of this has not yet been finalised, however we recognise that people moving onto jobseeker's allowance from incapacity benefit or employment and support allowance may face particular difficulties. The employment support we offer will reflect this.

Employment Schemes

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the budget for the single work programme planned by his Department will be in 2010-11; and what the previously planned total expenditure on all current back-to-work schemes providing targeted assistance to benefits claimants seeking employment was for 2010-11.

Chris Grayling: The total budget set aside to deliver employment programmes in 2010-11 was £2,432 million. This budget has been adjusted in-year to reflect savings of £320 million announced as part of the Government's recently announced £6 billion efficiency savings, giving a revised overall budget of £2,112 million.
	The Government have committed to introducing the work programme in the first half of 2011. The work Programme will be a single integrated package of support providing personalised help for everyone who finds themselves out of work regardless of the benefit they claim, and the budget will be set as part of the forthcoming spending review negotiations.

Employment Schemes: Lone Parents

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on training Jobcentre Plus personal advisers on the circumstances and needs of lone parents under the single work programme.

Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Darra Singh:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what the policy is on training Jobcentre Plus personal advisers in the circumstances and needs of lone parents under the Single Work Programme. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The role of Jobcentre Plus under the single work programme is not yet defined.
	However, the current learning routeway for Personal Advisers contains over 60 hours of learning specifically for dealing with Lone Parents. These events are delivered in a variety of training media including classroom facilitated events, open learning and e-learning.
	The learning includes modules on building customer commitment; building and maintaining lone parent networks; dealing with myths and stereotypes about lone parents; overcoming challenges and providing ongoing support in their transition to work.
	The learning also provides information on childcare and sources of financial help for lone parents.
	It is our intention to review and, if necessary, adapt this learning once we know more about the single work programme.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Employment Schemes: Voluntary Organisations

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of voluntary job clubs in helping people into employment.

Chris Grayling: Job clubs, such as those in Towcester and Brackley, offer local solutions to address unemployment which are led by local communities, organisations and voluntary groups.
	Where operational, they offer unemployed people a place to meet, exchange skills, make contacts, and find opportunities to help in their search for employment.
	Building on the job club model, the coalition Government have set out a clear commitment to support the development of local work clubs.

Funeral Payments

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations his Department have received from professional organisations on the funeral payment.

Steve Webb: We have had representations from the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD), the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) and some of their members. They raise a number of issues about the operation of the scheme.

Future Jobs Fund

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice he has received from his Department on the  (a) efficiency and  (b) cost-effectiveness of the future jobs fund; and if he will publish all such advice received.

Chris Grayling: The release of advice to Ministers would prejudice the free and frank provision of advice and the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation and will not, therefore, be provided.

Jobcentre Plus: Rapid Response Service

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for the Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service.

Chris Grayling: Our intention is to retain the Rapid Response Service in its current form for the 2010-11 financial year. However, in common with all departmental programmes, the longer term future of the service will be considered as part of the forthcoming comprehensive spending review.

Maternity Leave

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of women who took paid maternity leave in the last five years for which figures are available; what the average number of weeks paid maternity leave was in each such year; and what the average payment was in each such year.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for statutory maternity pay and maternity allowance. The Department's estimate of the numbers of women who received these payments for each of the last five years is outlined in the table.
	
		
			  Estimated numbers of women receiving statutory maternity pay and maternity allowance since 2005-06 
			   Estimated n umber 
			 2005-06 360,000 
			 2006-07 370,000 
			 2007-08 390,000 
			 2008-09 390,000 
			 2009-10 400,000 
			  Note:  Data are based on estimated numbers of starts or new cases in Great Britain.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions data. 
		
	
	It should be noted that these figures are likely to be an underestimate of the numbers of women who took paid maternity leave. Some women may have received paid maternity leave via occupational maternity pay schemes provided by their employer but did not qualify for statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance. No estimates are available for this group.
	No estimates are made for the average number of weeks of paid maternity leave or average payments.

Social Security Benefits: Stirling

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of the working age population of Stirling constituency are claimants of  (a) jobseeker's allowance,  (b) employment and support allowance and incapacity benefit,  (c) carer's allowance,  (d) disability living allowance,  (e) widow's and/or bereavement benefit and  (f) other income support.

Chris Grayling: The available information is in the following table:
	
		
			  Working age claimants by client group in Stirling parliamentary constituency: November 2009 
			   Claimants  Percentage of the working age population 
			 Job Seeker 1,760 3.2 
			 Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefits 3,830 7.0 
			 Carer 510 0.9 
			 Others on income related benefit 190 0.3 
			 Disabled 470 0.9 
			 Bereaved 150 0.3 
			  Notes: 1. Statistical Group is a hierarchical variable. A person who fits into more than one category will only appear in the top-most one for which they are eligible. For example a claimant of Disability Living Allowance and Jobseeker's Allowance would appear in "Job Seeker", not in "Disabled". 2. From November 2008 the "incapacity benefits group" includes Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). ESA replaced Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008. Prior to this the "incapacity benefits group" referred to claimants of Incapacity Benefit (including credits only) or Severe Disablement Allowance including people claiming Income Support on the grounds of incapacity. 3. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place. 4. Working Age Client Group data has been used as this excludes overlaps where people are in receipt of more than one benefit. Data published at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk  Source: Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. Mid 2008 population estimates produced by General Registers of Scotland.

Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's announcement of 24 May 2010 and pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2010,  Official Report, column 69W, on public expenditure: Wales, if he will provide details of his Department's non-devolved public expenditure savings that will be incurred in Wales, including an estimate of the financial savings.

Chris Grayling: The requested information is not available due to disproportionate cost.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the doubling of the operational allowance for armed forces personnel serving in Afghanistan is a permanent measure; and to what date the doubling of that allowance will be back-dated.

Liam Fox: The doubling of operational allowance is a permanent measure and is effective from 6 May 2010. In doing so we have fulfilled a key measure in our coalition programme for government.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of doubling the operational allowance for armed forces personnel serving in Afghanistan.

Liam Fox: The cost of doubling the operational allowance to all those eligible to receive it is £57 million per year, based on current force levels.

Air Misses

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) near misses and  (b) dangerous incidents involving military aircraft were reported in each year since 2007.

Nick Harvey: The number of hazards, observations, near misses and reportable incidents involving military aircraft that have been reported in each year since 2007 are shown in the following tables. They have been broken down by aircraft type. To provide further details of each of these events would, however, incur disproportionate cost.
	A new system for capturing all flight safety events across the Defence aviation community, known as the Aviation Safety Information Management System, was introduced in 2009. This improved system has resulted in an increase in reporting.
	
		
			  Hazards/observations/near misses by aircraft type, 2007-10 
			  Aircraft  2007  2008  2009  2010( 1) 
			 None(2) 0 0 13 46 
			 Alpha Jet 0 0 0 0 
			 Andover 0 0 0 0 
			 Apache 0 0 10 10 
			 Agusta 0 0 3 3 
			 BAE 125 0 0 4 2 
			 BAE 146 0 0 1 1 
			 Bell 0 0 5 1 
			 C17 0 0 10 13 
			 Chinook 0 0 18 11 
			 Defender 0 0 0 4 
			 Desert Hawk 0 0 4 0 
			 Dominie 0 0 1 1 
			 Firefly 0 0 6 0 
			 Gazelle 0 0 2 3 
			 Griffin 0 0 4 5 
			 Harrier 0 0 13 18 
			 Hawk 2 0 11 15 
			 Hercules 0 1 7 16 
			 Hermes 0 0 18 7 
			 Islander 0 0 1 2 
			 Jaguar 0 0 0 0 
			 Jetstream 0 0 0 1 
			 King Air 0 0 6 2 
			 Lynx 1 1 10 7 
			 Merlin 0 0 23 21 
			 Nimrod 0 0 10 1 
			 Other 0 0 6 10 
			 Puma 0 0 20 13 
			 Sea King 2 0 16 19 
			 Sentinel 0 0 1 8 
			 Sentry 0 0 1 7 
			 Squirrel 0 0 3 6 
			 Tornado 0 0 27 41 
			 Tristar 0 0 3 16 
			 Tucano 0 0 11 22 
			 Tutor 0 0 8 9 
			 Typhoon 0 0 5 14 
			 VC10 0 0 9 12 
			 Vigilant 0 0 0 2 
			 Viking 0 0 2 0 
			 Total 5 2 292 369 
			 (1 )Up to and including 31 May 2010. (2) 'None' covers those incidents where an aircraft was not involved eg during either maintenance of an aircraft component not fitted to an aircraft or involving a piece of Aircraft Ground Support Equipment. 
		
	
	Events in the table above are described as hazards and cover those circumstances which have, or could have, resulted in an occurrence, or could throw light on the cause of an occurrence. An abridged definition of an occurrence is an unplanned event associated with the operation of an aircraft.
	
		
			  Reportable incidents by military aircraft type, 2007-10 
			  Aircraft  2007  2008  2009  2010( 1) 
			 None(2) 24 71 34 45 
			 Alpha Jet 8 6 4 3 
			 Andover 1 1 1 3 
			 Apache 72 134 125 86 
			 Agusta 8 10 10 15 
			 BAE 125 6 6 2 2 
			 BAE 146 6 2 5 5 
			 Bell 18 43 57 23 
			 C17 36 34 43 25 
			 Chinook 299 310 314 172 
			 Defender 40 32 10 17 
			 Desert Hawk 0 0 71 57 
			 Dominie 22 14 8 7 
			 Firefly 17 15 6 0 
			 Gazelle 44 45 15 12 
			 Griffin 91 67 110 56 
			 Harrier 79 172 219 111 
			 Hawk 294 242 187 119 
			 Hercules 342 329 152 114 
			 Hermes 0 25 21 9 
			 Islander 11 13 15 20 
			 Jaguar 13 2 1 0 
			 Jetstream 11 11 12 2 
			 King Air 21 31 38 17 
			 Lynx 337 470 252 125 
			 Merlin 310 420 557 297 
			 Nimrod 177 122 29 22 
			 Other 16 21 55 18 
			 Puma 113 130 117 57 
			 Reaper 0 9 2 1 
			 Sea King 448 475 441 246 
			 Sentinel 13 17 20 8 
			 Sentry 67 42 22 13 
			 Squirrel 107 84 59 39 
			 Tornado 578 439 344 224 
			 Tristar 79 77 54 27 
			 Tucano 136 156 234 112 
			 Tutor 67 73 92 43 
			 Typhoon 153 187 202 89 
			 VC10 96 93 46 31 
			 Vigilant 23 62 33 24 
			 Viking 13 10 7 16 
			 Total 4,196 4,502 4,026 2,312 
			 (1) Up to and including 31 May 2010. (2) 'None' covers those incidents where an aircraft was not involved eg during either maintenance of an aircraft component not fitted to an aircraft or involving a piece of Aircraft Ground Support Equipment. 
		
	
	A reportable incident is described as an occurrence involving an aircraft which results in the aircraft sustaining category 1, 2 or 3 damage; or in a person receiving a minor or slight injury; or which discloses a flight safety hazard or potential hazard. As the MOD damage categorisation system does not apply to civilian registered aircraft, the occurrence is to be classed as an incident if the damage is repairable by the contractor's aircraft maintenance staff at the aircraft operating location.

Air Misses

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what AIRPROX incidents have taken place in the last five years; and what the  (a) location and  (b) aircraft type was in each incident.

Nick Harvey: There were 832 reported Air Proximity Hazard incidents between June 2004 and June 2009. I am placing details of these incidents, including the date, aircraft type and location, in the Library of the House. Investigations into Air Proximity Hazard incidents after June 2009 are not yet fully completed.
	Details of all incidents are published in bi-annual reports by the Air Proximity Board on its website:
	www.airproxboard.org.uk
	In the information I am placing in the Library of the House, I am also including a reference for each of the incidents to the relevant report. By publishing the causes, risks, trends and lessons learnt from all Air Proximity incidents, whether they are military or civil, the aim is to minimise the possibility of re-occurrence.
	An Air Proximity Hazard is formally defined as an incident in which, in the opinion of a pilot or controller, the distance between aircraft as well as their relative positions and speeds have been such that the safety of the aircraft involved was or may have been compromised.

Armed Forces

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is planning to take to observe the principles of the military covenant.

Andrew Robathan: We have made it clear in our Programme for Government that rebuilding the military covenant is one of the highest priorities for Defence.
	We have published a series of concrete measures to achieve this including in areas such as health and education. Work has begun on how to put these measures into practice as soon as possible.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what timetable has been set for completion of work with Help for Heroes on the purpose-built centre for injured soldiers in  (a) Catterick,  (b) Tidworth,  (c) Colchester and  (d) Edinburgh.

Andrew Robathan: The Army Recovery Capability was launched on 11 February 2010, in partnership with Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion. This new capability marks a further step forward in the support to our armed forces and will ensure the best possible care and management is provided to our wounded, sick and injured personnel.
	The provision of four purpose built Personnel Recovery Centres is a key element of the Army Recovery Capability. The centres will provide a day centre facility for all recovering personnel and a residential base for those who need it, whether their recovery is focused on a return to duty or a transition into civilian life. Each centre will be located inside or close to Army sites, enabling access to Army facilities and support from the Army, including existing medical, educational and other garrison facilities.
	The Pathfinder centre, in Edinburgh, opened on 17 August 2009 in partnership with Help for Heroes and the veterans' charity Erskine Homes. This centre will provide the capability until the three other Personnel Recovery Centres open. Current plans are for the Colchester centre to open in September 2011, the Catterick centre to open in April 2012, and the Tidworth/Bulford centre to open in April 2012.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding his Department allocated to the development of Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Headley Court in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: Funding for the treatment of wounded personnel at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court has been, and will continue to be, made available to match clinical requirements, including surges in casualty numbers. Our future budgetary plans assume a continuing need for additional investment in facilities and staff at Headley Court. Comprehensive financial data for the past five years are not readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Headley Court has received steadily increased investment in facilities and staff over recent years. The unit's operating costs, including estate management, are about £20.4 million in the current financial year, as compared with some £10.7 million (actual costs) in 2005-06. Significant new facilities brought into service over recent years, at an additional total cost of about £7.5 million, include a 30-bed ward annexe (May 2007), a 58-bed staff and patient accommodation block (January 2009) and the new Centre for Mental and Cognitive Health (opened in spring 2009). For many years the Headley Court estate, which is owned by a charitable trust, has also benefited from additional funding of projects by that trust and other charities.
	In addition to funding the projects just listed, it was announced in May 2008 that an extra £24 million in capital funding over the next four years for a Headley Court development programme. Over the first two years (i.e. up to June 2010) this funding has been mainly applied to the MOD contribution to the Help for Heroes rehabilitation complex, which recently came into service, and a utilities upgrade for the whole site.

Armed Forces: Housing

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what timetable has been set for completion of work on supported housing for service leaders in Catterick.

Andrew Robathan: Construction work began on 18 January 2010 on the training and housing centre, 'The Beacon', in Catterick, North Yorkshire, and based on current estimates, work is due to be completed by the end of April 2011.

Armed Forces: Wales

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces were born in or are domiciled in  (a) Aberavon constituency and  (b) Wales.

Andrew Robathan: The information is not held in the format requested.

Ascension Island

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on his Department's outstanding bills relating to Ascension Island.

Nick Harvey: The Secretary of State for Defence and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs have discussed the dispute over the Ministry of Defence's annual property tax liability on Ascension Island. The MOD is continuing to work towards securing a cross-government sustainable financial future for Ascension Island.

Atomic Weapons Establishment

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the objectives are of the business review under way at the Atomic Weapons Establishment.

Peter Luff: A number of reviews are currently under way at the Atomic Weapons Establishment. All have primary objectives aimed at ensuring the maintenance of a safe and credible UK deterrent, and the maintenance of an efficient and effective deterrent capability to achieve maximum value for money.

Defence Equipment: Sales

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value of receipts from the Disposal Services Authority has been in each year since 1993.

Peter Luff: Data on the monetary value of receipts from the Disposal Services Authority for the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Gross s ales  Direct costs of sales  Net s ales 
			 2005-06 61.4 27.2 34.2 
			 2006-07 99 43.5 55.5 
			 2007-08 88.6 37.4 51.2 
			 2008-09 88.1 41 47.1 
			 2009-10 62.5 33.2 29.3 
		
	
	Data prior to Financial Year 2005-06 are no longer available as this is the first full financial year that the Disposals Sales Agency was set up and transferred into the Defence Logistics Organisation (subsequently Defence Equipment and Support).

Defence Equipment: Sales

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value of receipts from the e-disposals service has been in each year for which figures are available.

Peter Luff: Information on the monetary value of receipts from the website e-disposals service is not recorded separately by the Disposal Services Authority (DSA). The items sold under e-disposals are disposed of by contractors who also use other disposal routes. They are required to declare their total income to the DSA but not to breakdown the source of the sales .

Defence Equipment: Sales

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value was of goods sold to  (a) Government Departments,  (b) non-departmental public bodies and  (c) other public sector organisations by (i) the Disposal Services Authority and (ii) edisposals in each year for which figures are available.

Peter Luff: It is not usual for the Disposal Services Authority (DSA) to dispose of MOD items to other Government departments because the items are generally of a military or specialist nature, or are unattractive because of their age or wear and tear. Exceptionally, however, during 2009-10, DSA sold surplus medical equipment to Portsmouth NHS Trust for the value of £630,435 during the financial year which ended on 31 March 2010.
	No other sales were made directly by DSA to Government departments, non-departmental public bodies or other public sector organisations.

Defence Equipment: Sales

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the annual operating cost of  (a) the Disposals Services Authority and  (b) e-disposals has been in each year for which figures are available.

Peter Luff: Total operating costs from 2005-06 for the Disposal Services Authority (DSA), including e-disposals are as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Financial year  Direct costs  Other  operating costs  Total  operating costs 
			 2005-06 27.2 15.1 42.3 
			 2006-07 43.5 20.4 63.9 
			 2007-08 37.4 7.1 44.5 
			 2008-09 41 3.1 44.1 
			 2009-10 33.2 6 39.2

Departmental Consultants

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how many days persons employed on consultant contracts worked for his Department, its agencies and the armed services in the last 12 months; at what cost to the public purse; how many people have been so employed on consultant contracts for more than  (a) two,  (b) three and  (c) four years; and if he will publish the daily rates upon which such persons have been engaged in (i) the current financial year, (ii) 2009-10, (iii) 2008-09, (iv) 2007-08 and (v) 2006-07.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) contracts for External Assistance with consultancy companies to deliver a specific output at an agreed price. The Department does not involve itself in how the company deploys its staff in order to deliver the output and does not, therefore, hold such details.
	MOD expenditure on External Assistance has been reported to Parliament since 1995-96. For the years in question expenditure by MOD including its agencies and the armed forces was as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2006-07 129 
			 2007-08 120 
			 2008-09 106 
		
	
	The figure for expenditure in 2009-10 will be placed in the Library of the House in the next few months and the figure for 2010-11 will be placed in the Library after the end of the financial year.
	Wherever possible MOD tries to use its internal resources to meet its needs rather than bringing in outside assistance.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Ministers in his Department have been issued with  (a) a BlackBerry,  (b) an iPhone,  (c) another make of mobile telephone and  (d) a personal digital assistant supplied by the Department.

Andrew Robathan: The Secretary of State for Defence has been issued with a BlackBerry and the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology has been issued with a Nokia mobile telephone.

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the use by Ministers in his Department of cars allocated from  (a) his Department's pool and  (b) the Government car pool which are manufactured in the UK; whether Ministers in his Department are entitled to request the use of a car manufactured in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: No Minister in the Department has an allocated pool car.
	The Government's policy is that Ministers may make use of the Government Car Service (GCS) under the terms of the recently announced Ministerial Code. Ministers will be entitled to use cars from the GCS pool as needed. UK manufactured cars make up a relatively small proportion (around 16%) of the current GCS fleet, most of which comprises low carbon emission hybrid vehicles manufactured abroad. Changed rules for allocation of cars and the need to reduce the cost of operating the GCS mean that vehicle replacement is likely to be restricted in the immediate future, necessarily limiting the options for reconfiguring the fleet without incurring additional cost. For reasons of efficient and economic fleet management, it is not practical for Ministers to specify a particular vehicle or type of vehicle for a journey in a pool service car.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings his officials have had with Lockheed Martin on the procurement of the Joint Strike Fighter in the last six months; and what was discussed on each occasion.

Peter Luff: Ministry of Defence officials of the Joint Combat Aircraft Project Team, including US-based officials seconded to the JSF Programme Office, meet regularly with Lockheed Martin and the US Department of Defence-approximately on a daily basis. These meetings take place either in person or via video conference facilities. The majority of these meetings take place at a working level and cover a wide range of matters relating to the project.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the effect on costs of delays in the Joint Strike Fighter programme.

Peter Luff: As the only Level 1 partner in the JSF programme, the UK has been closely engaged with the changes recently made by the US and is fully aware of the impact in terms of performance, cost and time.
	There is no impact on the performance of the aircraft. There is also no change to the cost of UK's contribution to the JSF development programme which is fixed by the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the US in 2001. The aircraft already purchased for Operational Test will continue to be used for that purpose and in the timescales originally planned.
	Our plans to purchase further JSF are incremental and have always been based on the programme reaching technical maturity levels and being affordable within the overall resources for Defence. We will review our future purchase plans accordingly and as part of both the Strategic Defence and Security Review and normal departmental planning process.

Lynx Helicopters

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review his Department's contract for the Lynx Wildcat project to ensure it represents value for money.

Peter Luff: Under the Strategic Defence and Security Review work has been set in hand to review all major equipment and support contracts to ensure the future programme is coherent with future defence needs and can be afforded.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the change has been in the number of helicopter hours available to commanders in the last three years.

Nick Harvey: The number of funded helicopter hours available to commanders for training and operational flying for the last three financial years is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Financial year 
			  Aircraft type  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Lynx Mk 3/8 11,200 10,440 9,260 
			 Sea King Mk 5 4,122 4,135 4,399 
			 Sea King Mk 7 3,601 3,770 3,686 
			 Merlin Mk 1 9,380 9,380 9,380 
			 Sea King Mk 4/6 11,186 12,502 12,504 
			 Apache 14,400 16,500 18,500 
			 Lynx Mk 7/9 18,599 15,500 15,500 
			 Gazelle 10,935 5,988 4,450 
			 Chinook Mk 2 15,912 16,500 18,503 
			 Merlin Mk 3 7,550 7,000 8,400 
			 Puma 12,000 9,756 7,250 
			 Sea King Mk 3/3a 9,180 9,721 9,720 
		
	
	The reduction in flying hours for the Puma is as a consequence of fewer airframes being available due to the Puma upgrade programme. Gazelle hours are reducing as this aircraft is being withdrawn from service.

Ministry of Defence Guard Service: Manpower

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed in his Department's Guard Service.

Andrew Robathan: On 31 May 2010 the Ministry of Defence Guard Service had 3,615 guards and guard managers, and a further 66 staff in management, training, administrative and support roles, making a total of 3681 staff. The Ministry of Defence Guard Service covers over 200 sites across Great Britain.

Nuclear Weapons

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) US personnel visited the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) and  (b) AWE staff visited US establishments under the terms of the US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement in each of the last three years.

Gerald Howarth: The total number of personnel visiting the Atomic Weapons Establishment and US installations under the terms of the UK-US Mutual Defence Agreement in each of the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 UK visitors to the US  
			 2007 591 
			 2008 522 
			 2009 527 
			   
			 US visitors to the UK  
			 2007 548 
			 2008 806 
			 2009 518

RAF Kinloss

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to keep wildlife off the runways at RAF Kinloss.

Nick Harvey: RAF Kinloss has a bird control contract in place to provide a bird scaring service and uses radar to monitor carefully the movement of migratory birds. In addition, the natural territorial instincts of a carefully managed herd of resident deer discourage other deer from entering the site.

RAF St Athan

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to complete negotiations on the development of the Defence Training College at St Athan.

Nick Harvey: The contract negotiations with the preferred bidder, Metrix, are ongoing. The core of the commercial deal is planned to be completed by the end of the year under current plans. This is important to the funding process because it will enable banks to examine the essential elements of the draft contract and hence support the process of due diligence. Work will continue until all aspects of the contract, including funding, reach an acceptable conclusion. I will update the House when negotiations are finalised.

War Pensions Committees

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the regional War Pension Committees; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 15 June 2010
	The role of War Pensions Committees (WPCs) has evolved since they were established in 1921. To ensure they remained relevant for the current ex-service community it was decided to review the structure and function of the WPCs.
	The WPCs are now known as the Veterans Advisory and Pension Committees (VAPCs), and a pilot scheme is being established to assess an informal broadening of their role to include, most notably, support and advice in relation to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. On completion of the pilot, in June 2011, a full evaluation will be carried out and a decision on the future role of the VAPCs will be made.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the  (a) make,  (b) model and  (c) place of manufacture is of the car allocated for the use of each Minister in his Department.

Owen Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) currently has access to two cars from the Government Car and Despatch Agency as required for official business:
	 (a) Jaguar  (b) model XJ Sovereign, and manufactured in  (c) the United Kingdom.
	 (a) Toyota  (b) model Prius T3, and manufactured in  (c) Japan.
	The current use of ministerial cars is the same as the previous Administration but is currently under review.

Departmental Pay

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was paid in bonuses to civil servants in his Department in 2009-10.

Owen Paterson: Figures for the 2009-10 financial year are not yet available. I will write to the hon. Member when they become available.

Departmental Reviews

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 137W, on Government Departments: reviews, what reviews his Department is undertaking; and what the  (a) purpose and  (b) timescale of each is.

Owen Paterson: The coalition agreement sets out in detail the Government's future plans, including the key reviews they will be undertaking. My Department will bring forward detailed information about these reviews in due course.

WALES

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what her policy is on the use by Ministers in her Department of cars allocated from  (a) her Department's pool and  (b) the Government car pool which are manufactured in the UK; whether Ministers in her Department are entitled to request the use of a car manufactured in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Cheryl Gillan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), on 14 June 2010,  Official Report, column 291W.

Departmental Official Cars

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many  (a) civil servants and  (b) special advisers in her Department are entitled to the use of (i) a car with a dedicated driver, (ii) a car from the Government car pool and (iii) a taxi ordered through a departmental account.

Cheryl Gillan: Nil.

Prisons: Construction

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions she has had with Ministers and officials of the Ministry of Justice on the siting of a prison in North Wales.

Cheryl Gillan: I recently wrote to the Minister for Prisons, my hon. Friend the Member for Reigate (Mr Blunt), outlining my strong support for the siting of a new prison in North Wales where there is currently a shortfall in the number of prison places.
	I understand that the Ministry of Justice is currently considering the various sites that have been recommended for a potential prison in North Wales. I will work closely with colleagues in the Ministry of Justice to ensure that implications for Wales are fully taken into account in the decision process.

EDUCATION

Departmental Billing

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of invoices from suppliers to his Department were paid within 10 days of receipt in  (a) March and  (b) April 2010.

Michael Gove: Since November 2010 the Department for Education has had a Shared Service Agreement with the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) which includes the Purchase to Pay function.
	 (a) The percentage of invoices paid within 10 days of receipt in March 2010 was 96%.
	 (b) The percentage of invoices paid within 10 days of receipt in April 2010 was 96%.

Departmental Official Residences

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether any domestic properties in the gift of the Government have been allocated to the use of Ministers in his Department.

Michael Gove: No Ministers in the Department for Education have been allocated any domestic properties in the gift of the Government.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on maintaining present levels of funding for schools, Sure Start and 16 to 19 education in 2011-12.

Michael Gove: Funding for schools, Sure Start and 16 to 19 education have been protected in 2010-11. No decisions on spending in 2011-12 have been made, and they will be made at the spending review in the autumn. It is our priority to protect frontline services while taking steps to address the unprecedented challenge we face on deficit reduction.

Departmental Reorganisation

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much it cost to rename his Department.

Michael Gove: The re-naming of the Department for Education cost £5,250.

Departmental Responsibilities

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for which policy areas each member of his ministerial team is responsible.

Michael Gove: I refer the right hon. Member to the list of ministerial responsibilities which can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/team

Flags

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on flying the Union flag each day from each official building for which his Department is responsible.

Michael Gove: The Department for Education flies the Union flag every day of the year.

HEALTH

Breast Feeding

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate has been made of the proportion of mothers who breastfeed their babies  (a) in the Strelley/Broxstowe Sure Start area and  (b) nationally.

Anne Milton: Currently Strelley Sure Start area is supported by the Nottingham City primary care trust (PCT) and Broxstowe Sure Start area is supported by the Nottingham County PCT. The following table shows the number of mothers who initiated and sustained breastfeeding at six to eight weeks in both the PCTs and the national average.
	
		
			  Breastfeeding initiation and prevalence at six to eight weeks in 2009-10 
			  Percentage 
			   Nottingham City PCT (Strelley)  Nottingham County PCT (Broxstowe)  National average 
			 Breastfeeding initiation (Out turn 2009-10) 69 75.9 72.7 
			 Breastfeeding prevalence-percentage of infants due a six to eight week check (Quarter 4 2009-10) 44.2 39.9 45.2

Carers: Finance

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will undertake a review of the level of support provided to carers with particular reference to carers who are pensioners.

Paul Burstow: In the following months, the Government will be carrying out a 'refresh' of the previous Government's Carers Strategy, focusing upon identifying the delivery of those actions that will have the greatest impact upon the lives of carers of all ages, including older carers. We will provide further details in due course.

Coroners: Children

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many qualified paediatric pathologists were practising in each coroner's district in each of the last five years; how many pathologists are being trained to carry out specialist examinations on deceased children; what plans he has to increase the numbers of qualified paediatric pathologists; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Department does not collect information on the number of qualified paediatric pathologists in each coroner's district.
	Specialist paediatric pathologists are not separately identified within the NHS Workforce Census and the Department does not collect data on the number of training places commissioned in this sub-specialty.
	At present, there are no plans in place to increase the number of qualified paediatric pathologists.

Mental Health Services

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to increase the use of preventative measures to reduce the number of people developing mental health problems.

Paul Burstow: We will be assessing our priorities carefully and will announce details on mental health policy in due course. Our focus will be on making services patient-led, based on the best clinical evidence, responsive to patients' choice and management of their own care, and delivering best 'health' outcomes.

Palliative Care: Finance

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the capital allocation of £924,116 granted to Nottinghamshire Hospice to support the end of life care strategy will be made.

Paul Burstow: My right hon. Friend, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has announced today the outcome of the review of spending approved since 1 January 2010. As part of this review, capital allocations have now been approved for the 116 hospices which were announced by the Department in April 2010 as having been successful in applying for a share of the £40 million hospice capital grant for 2010-11. This includes Nottinghamshire Hospice.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Dangerous Dogs

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent seizing and kennelling dogs under section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 by  (a) the Metropolitan Police and  (b) police in England in each year since 2005.

James Paice: holding answer 16 June 2010
	A breakdown of the cost to the Metropolitan Police of kennelling dogs under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991(1) in each year since 2005 is provided in the following table:
	(1) The figures in the table provide a breakdown of kennelling and care costs for all dogs, not just dogs seized under Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. However, over 85% of the dogs seized by the Metropolitan Police are done so under Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act.
	
		
			  Cost to Met Police of kennelling dogs 
			   £ 
			   Boarding  Veterinary fees  Transport  Total 
			 2005-06 148,922.00 250.00 0.00 149,172.00 
			 2006-07 403,185.18 1,340.00 0.00 404,525.18 
			 2007-08 834,251.41 1,370.00 0.00 835,621.41 
			 2008-09 1,253,401.03 17,677.89 5,198.00 1,276,276.92 
			 2009-10 1,750,215.27 245,657.56 93,177.74 2,089,050.57 
			 (1) The figures in the table provide a breakdown of kennelling and care costs for all dogs, not just dogs seized under Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. However, over 85% of the dogs seized by the Metropolitan Police are done so under Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act.  Source:  Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Status Dog Unit 
		
	
	The cost to police forces across England of kennelling dogs under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in each year since 2005 cannot be provided because these figures are not held centrally.
	The cost to the Metropolitan Police and to police across England of seizing dogs cannot be provided because use of police time is not recorded in this way.

Departmental Reviews

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 137W, on Government Departments: reviews, what reviews her Department is undertaking; and what the  (a) purpose and  (b) timescale of each is.

Richard Benyon: The Coalition Agreement sets out in detail the Government's future plans, including the key reviews it will be undertaking. DEFRA will bring forward detailed information about these reviews in due course.

Eunomia Research and Consulting

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the  (a) title,  (b) cost including value added tax and  (c) subject was of each project commissioned from the consultancy Eunomia by (i) her Department, (ii) the Waste and Resources Action Programme and (iii) the Environment Agency since 2001; how much has been spent on Eunomia by each organisation in that period; and whether Eunomia is currently working on any projects for each organisation.

Richard Benyon: Since 2001, DEFRA has spent a total of £2,464,622.14 on projects commissioned from the consultancy, Eunomia. Due to the wide ranging nature of work, it would involve a disproportionate cost to identify individual projects, which have included many areas of work across DEFRA. Eunomia currently has a contract with DEFRA and the Department for Communities and Local Government to draft a protocol and guidance to improve the interface between environmental permitting and planning permission.
	Data for individual projects are however available for those commissioned by the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and the Environment Agency.
	Table 1 lists the title, subject and cost of work commissioned from Eunomia by WRAP. These are inclusive of VAT.
	Table 2 shows completed outturn project expenditure to Eunomia by the Environment Agency between 2001 and 15 June 2010.
	Currently, Eunomia is engaged on a single project for the Environment Agency, approved expenditure details of which are given in Table 3.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			  Title  Subject  Cost (£) 
			 Investment of growth Investment for growth in the third sector 44,502.76 
			 1st round R and D seminars 1st round R and D seminars 7,157.20 
			 UK market development UK market development 7,108.75 
			 Promotion cost model Development of a promotion cost model 2,167.88 
			 Compost supply Evaluation of compost supply and demand in south-east (incl. London) and east England 39,798.49 
			 Peer review Peer review: sink and sewer report 1,883.07 
			 ROTATE specialists Appointment of external specialists to support the work of ROTATE (2004-2006) 59,441.89 
			 Kerbside good practice Kerbside good practice guide 58,457.95 
			 Mixed plastic collection Mixed plastics collection practice and dissemination 80,068.48 
			 Collecting gate fees Collecting gate fees pilot study 40,806.54 
			 Gate fees survey(1) Gate fees survey(1) 83,860.50 
			 R and D trials Improved segregation technologies 3,046.57 
			 Project monitoring Technical support-added value markets 5,184.01 
			 Confidence in compost Research to examine issues associated with the use of quality compost in agriculture 2,083.00 
			 Use of compost in Europe(1) European review: use of compost in agriculture(1) 31,015.62 
			 Technical advice on TAD and AD Technical support on anaerobic digestion 5,090.75 
			 Options food waste Options food waste processing into a product 40,355.13 
			 Anaerobic digestion and TAD Food waste 23,270.25 
			 Speakers costs development and delivery of a training resource for the UK organics waste recycling industry 2,633.32 
			 Organics programme development Advice on MBT 3,591.82 
			 Peer review Review of LCA estimator 13,879.69 
			 Landfill bans research The environmental, economic and practical impacts of landfill bans 115,939.97 
			 External assessors Regional market development fund-round one 5,349.78 
			 ROTATE Northern Ireland Kerbside options for the additions of biowaste collections 33,516.98 
			 Consultancy support to ROTATE Appointment of consultants to support the work of ROTATE (2006-08) 201,621.77 
			 Food waste collection trials Local authority food waste collection trials 21,572.66 
			 Kerbside benchmarking Benchmarking performance of kerbside collection 3,758.21 
			 Stillage vehicle project Kerbside recycling vehicle design and build project 1524.44 
			 Local authority support-PFI projects Support to Dorset Waste Partnership 28,986.88 
			 LA support(1) Local authority support-consultancy advice (2008-10)(1) 269,138.38 
			 ROTATE Northern Ireland(1) Support for local authorities in Northern Ireland(1) 86,649.56 
			 Commercial food waste(1) Collections of food waste from businesses(1) 38,140.10 
			 Procurement guidance(1) Review of the availability and type of waste collection service procurement guide(1) 19,864.00 
			 Food waste trials Surrey 22,415.88 
			 Food waste trials Guildford 2,226.07 
			 Support to food waste collection Support to food waste collection programme 6,837.97 
			 Compost standards consultation BSI PAS consultation and dissemination 34,344.09 
			  Grand total 1,427,290.41 
			 (1) These projects are currently live. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 
			  Area of Environment Agency  Project title  Date purchase order approved  Value (excl. VAT) (£) 
			 Environment and business-business performance and regulation- industry regulation Expert advice on using damage cost methodologies to help us make regulatory decisions. The contractors will review existing methods and data, determine whether they are appropriate to use for various regulatory purposes, produce guidelines for their use with worked examples and comment on limitations and uncertainties. 14 December 2009 12,000.00 
			 Evidence Economics Review of Sustainable Consumption and Production Network (SCPnet) activities, 2007-10 10 December 2009 9,032.03 
			 Environment and business-land and natural environment-land quality To review the cost benefit section of H1 and provide recommendations for updating 17 March 2008 6,000.00 
			  Subtotal excl. VAT  27,032.03 
			  VAT at 17.5%  4,730.61 
			  Total incl. VAT at 17.5%  31,762.64 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3 
			  PO Number (Ref)  Area of Environment Agency  Project title  Date purchase order approved  Value (excl. VAT) 
			 30260099 Environment and business-business performance and regulation partnerships Waste protocols project-financial impact assessment of a quality protocol for waste wood 4 December 2009 (1)27,755.10 
			   Subtotal excl. VAT  27,755.10 
			   VAT at 17.5%  4,857.14 
			   Total incl. VAT at 17.5%  32,612.24 
			 Of this figure, £22,358.92 (exclusive of VAT) has been spent and invoiced as of 15 June 2010.

Floods: Sandwich

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will request the Environment Agency to report on the status and timing of the commencement of work on flood defence measures for Sandwich, Kent.

Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency is developing two flood defence schemes for the towns of Sandwich and Deal. Construction is expected to start in 2012, subject to other priorities for funding at the time. Both schemes are planned to be completed by 2015.
	Basic information about all schemes can be found on the Environment Agency's website:
	www.environment-agency.gov.uk
	at:
	www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/118129.aspx

Hunting

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to hold a public consultation on the effectiveness of the operation of the Hunting Act 2004.

James Paice: There are no plans to hold a public consultation on this issue.

Nanotechnology

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on nanotechnology; and from what budgets funding is drawn for implementation of that policy.

James Paice: We need to understand and manage any potential risks to the environment and maximise the environmental benefits which nanotechnologies may offer. DEFRA's Research & Development budget includes funds specifically for research into the environmental impacts of nanomaterials.

Nanotechnology

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department plans to spend on nanotechnology in the next five years.

James Paice: In the current financial year £591,000 has already been committed for research into the environmental implications of nanomaterials. Departmental budgets for future years have not yet been decided.

Nanotechnology

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the future role of nanotechnology in her Department's policies.

James Paice: Nanoscience has the potential to drive positive developments across many sectors of the agriculture and environment agenda. DEFRA will continue its work to promote the responsible development and safe use of nanotechnologies by prioritising research into those nanomaterials which pose a higher potential risk to the environment, in particular those which are currently available or close to the market. We will also continue to collaborate in national and global initiatives to develop tools to detect nanomaterials in the environment and assess their effects.

Poultry: Animal Welfare

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on implementing the EU prohibition on conventional battery cages for laying hens in January 2012.

James Paice: The welfare of laying hens is protected in England by the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 and by similar legislation in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The legislation implements EU Directive 99/74/EC, which among other welfare advances bans the use of conventional cages for laying hens from 2012.
	The Government remain committed to the conventional cage ban coming into force on 1 January 2012 and to supporting industry during this transitional stage. We want to ensure that those UK producers who have already made significant investment to comply with the legislation, by converting out of conventional cages, are not disadvantaged if other countries do not meet the 2012 deadline.

Poultry: Animal Welfare

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the ban on beak-trimming of laying hens will come into force.

James Paice: holding answer 16 June 2010
	The Government have accepted the advice of The Farm Animal Welfare Council, an independent advisory body, that a complete ban on beak trimming of laying hens should not be introduced from 1 January 2011 (as is currently in legislation), but should be deferred until it can be demonstrated reliably under commercial conditions that laying hens can be managed without routine beak trimming.
	The Government's consultation on the proposed amendments to the Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007, to remove the total ban on beak trimming allowing for the routine beak trimming of day old chicks intended for laying to be carried out using the infra-red technique only, closed on 14 April. Consultation responses are currently being considered.

Poultry: Animal Welfare

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to decide on whether to ban beak-trimming for laying hens.

James Paice: The Government have accepted the advice of The Farm Animal Welfare Council, an independent advisory body, that a complete ban on beak trimming of laying hens should not be introduced from 1 January 2011 (as is currently in legislation), but should be deferred until it can be demonstrated reliably under commercial conditions that laying hens can be managed without routine beak trimming.
	The Government's consultation on the proposed amendments to the Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007, to remove the total ban on beak trimming allowing for the routine beak trimming of day old chicks intended for laying to be carried out using the infra-red technique only, closed on 14 April. Consultation responses are currently being considered.

River Lymington: Ferries

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of  (a) the most recent estimate of adverse effects on the Lymington River Ramsar site by ferry operators and  (b) the UK's compliance with the EU Habitats Directive.

Richard Benyon: Responsibility for assessing the impact of the "W" class ferries rests with the competent authority, in this case Wightlink. In undertaking this assessment the competent authority is required by the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 to have regard to the advice of Natural England. DEFRA has no formal role in the assessment process.
	Natural England's most recent formal advice to DEFRA was that, in its view, no measurable harm or damage that would constitute an adverse effect on the integrity of the site had occurred since the "W" class ferry operation started on 25 February 2009 and, moreover, that any impacts arising from the operation of these ferries up to the spring of 2011, when works needed to mitigate the impact of the ferries are planned to start, would be insignificant and not likely to result in any measurable harm or damage.
	I understand that Natural England remain of the view that provided Wightlink commences delivery of the mitigation measures by the spring of 2011, no adverse impact on the site from the operation of the new ferries will have occurred.

River Lymington: Ferries

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will appoint a competent authority for the purposes of the impact assessments and environmental assessments to be initiated by Wightlink on the Lymington River;
	(2)  what account she has taken of recent High Court rulings in the determination of a competent authority for projects in the Lymington River; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: Wightlink is regarded as a competent authority in relation to the operation of the ferries because it falls within the definition of such an authority in regulation 7 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (which came into force on 1 April). There are no provisions in these regulations that enable Wightlink to be replaced as the competent authority.
	I am not aware of any court rulings that suggest that these regulations should be amended to provide a power for the Secretary of State to determine who should be regarded as a competent authority in a particular case.

Water: EU Law

George Hollingbery: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to  (a) ensure compliance with the EU Water Framework Directive and  (b) to protect freshwater resources.

Richard Benyon: The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), which was transposed in 2003, raised the bar and introduced more challenging objectives for our aquatic environment. It takes a more holistic approach to managing our waters, looking at the water within the wider ecosystem and taking into account the movement of water through the hydrological cycle.
	The WFD contains two key objectives: to aim to achieve good status in all water bodies by 2015 and to ensure no water body deteriorates below its current classification. Where it is not possible to achieve good status by 2015, the WFD provides two further planning cycles (2015-21 and 2021-27) to achieve that objective, although this is subject to strict criteria.
	In order to achieve the objectives we are required to put in place River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) which we achieved by the deadline within the WFD.
	The first RBMPs were developed in consultation with interested organisations and individuals and were published on 22 December 2009. The plans set out how we will work towards meeting the WFD objectives and include over 8,500 investigations to be completed by the end of 2012. This will provide the evidence we require for further action within the first cycle and subsequent cycles to protect our freshwater resources.
	The actions contained within the first plans will see more than 9,000 miles of rivers in England and Wales improved.
	The Environment Agency protects freshwater resources by preventing deterioration from their current Water Framework Directive classifications. The Agency plans for and delivers sustainable licensed abstraction of water for economic and social needs and issues effective environmental permits to protect water bodies that receive discharges. The Agency also identifies and implements actions to improve the water environment including redressing the impacts of existing abstraction licences that damage the environment.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Anguilla

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 96W, on Anguilla, what decision has been reached in the work which has been undertaken with the government of Anguilla on the amount that government may borrow in each of the next three years.

Henry Bellingham: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 96W. No new agreement on Anguilla's borrowing over the next three years has yet been reached.

British Overseas Territories: Equality

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 98W, on British Overseas Territories: equality, whether all new Overseas Territories constitutions will include explicit provision for freedom from discrimination on the grounds of sexuality.

Henry Bellingham: In any future constitutional review negotiations, the Government will continue to encourage the Overseas Territories to include, specifically, sexual orientation as a ground upon which discrimination is prohibited.
	Where the Government have agreed a new constitution since 1999 a Bill of Rights is included in the Territory's constitution reflecting at a minimum the rights and freedoms set out in the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.

Climate Change: International Cooperation

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what public diplomacy work on climate change is being undertaken by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: Our network of embassies and High Commissions are active in promoting publicly the benefits to Britain and the world of a transition to a low carbon high growth global economy.
	They are involved in encouraging inward and outward trade and political visits and are working with NGOs and the media throughout the world to encourage the growing consensus amongst wider civil society that action on climate change should be taken.
	High profile examples include the creation of a map showing the potential consequences of dangerous climate change and a four degree rise in global temperature which was released in seven languages globally.

Climate Change: International Cooperation

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to promote a low carbon, high growth global economy; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: Our network of embassies and High Commissions are actively engaged in setting out the urgency with which dangerous climate change should be tackled and the benefits to Britain and the world of a transition to a low carbon high growth global economy.
	This includes working with business leaders in the UK and worldwide including via the World Economic Forum to make the case for action and highlight the opportunities for green economic growth, and supporting the case for active use of carbon capture and storage technology globally.
	We also work with vulnerable and developing countries to help raise their voice in support of an ambitious global climate change deal which would underpin a low carbon economic transition worldwide.

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the use by Ministers in his Department of cars allocated from  (a) his Department's pool and  (b) the Government car pool which are manufactured in the UK; whether Ministers in his Department are entitled to request the use of a car manufactured in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: FCO Services, a Trading Fund of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office operates a small pool of vehicles and security cleared drivers used mainly for transportation of diplomatic bags and other classified material.
	No Ministers currently use this pool of vehicles.
	Ministerial use of such cars would be governed by the relevant guidelines set out in the ministerial code and would be based strictly on operational need. The make and model of car used and its country of manufacture would be dependent upon availability within the pool.
	In relation to the use of vehicles from the Government car pool, I refer the hon. Member to the answers of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), answer of 14 June 2010,  Official Report, column 291W.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what receptions have been hosted by his Department since he came to office; and what the cost was of each.

Henry Bellingham: Government Hospitality has arranged one reception for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since the new Government were appointed. The Diplomatic Reception in honour of the Official Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen is traditionally held in early June, hosted by the Secretary of State, for members of the London Diplomatic Corps and key departmental contacts. This year the reception took place on 8 June, at a cost of approximately £22,968, compared with a cost of £28,000 in 2009. Any expenditure on business hospitality is kept under rigorous scrutiny to ensure value for money and effectiveness and that it is incurred in accordance with HM Treasury guidelines.
	No central records are held of other receptions hosted across the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or at missions overseas, and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Government Hospitality: Wines

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many bottles of wine in the Government wine cellar were personal gifts from a serving French President to a serving Prime Minister; and what the estimated monetary value is of each.

Henry Bellingham: Government Hospitality currently holds 15 bottles of wine that were given as gifts to former Prime Ministers by the President of the French Republic or the French Prime Minister. Government Hospitality does not record the value of gifts received by the Prime Minister's Office. The wines will be used on appropriate occasions in the future.

Government Hospitality: Wines

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the entries in the Government wine cellar database.

Henry Bellingham: The Government Hospitality (GH) wine database is an electronic management tool used by GH to record the use of stock in the Government wine cellar. It also records details of usage, pricing, charging prices, market values and comments by the Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine on individual products. The database is not released into the public domain because of the likely impact on GH's commercial interests and those of its suppliers and future ability to obtain value for money.

Iran: Human Rights

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support proposals to establish a human rights monitoring mechanism in relation to Iran, with particular reference to people of the Ba'hai faith; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Human Rights situation in Iran is deplorable and has deteriorated markedly since the disputed election result in June 2009. We are also deeply concerned by the situation of the Baha'i in Iran, including the trial of the seven Baha'i leaders. We continue to consider with international partners the most effective means of holding the Iranian authorities to account on their human rights record. This includes calling for visits by the UN special rapporteurs and seeking early implementation of the recommendations of Iran's Universal Periodic Review agreed in June.

Iran: Sanctions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps at the United Nations he  (a) has taken since his appointment and  (b) plans to take in the next six months in response to allegations of (i) arming and (ii) funding by Iran of Hamas; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: Iranian support in the form of arming and funding of Hamas, and other Palestinian Rejectionist Groups, is unacceptable. It undermines international confidence in the Iranian regime's intentions, and is at odds with the regime's claim to the international community that it supports stability in the Middle East.
	Hamas continue to pursue an ideology of violence and directly undermine prospects for peace in the region. We call on them to take immediate and concrete steps towards the Quartet principles.
	A number of issues related to the Middle East are discussed on a monthly basis at the UN. The UK will continue to push for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1860 which aims to prevent the illicit trafficking of arms into Gaza. We will continue giving our full support to the UN Sanctions Committee in pursuing and investigating sanctions violations.

Iran: Sanctions

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of sanctions against Iran by the United Nations Security Council.

Alistair Burt: We assess that sanctions so far have slowed down Iran's progress on the nuclear programme, including by increasing the difficulty of procurement of sensitive items that could be used in the nuclear programme. The latest sanctions resolution makes the choice between the benefits of re-engaging on the nuclear portfolio and the cost of ignoring international opinion starker, and will strengthen the voices of those in Iran who recognise the bleakness of Iran's future if it does not change its policy.

Mexico: Oil

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with the Government of Mexico plans to amend laws governing drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico.

Jeremy Browne: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no current plans to discuss with the Mexican Government the amendment of laws governing drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico.
	Our embassy in Mexico City has been in contact with the Mexican Government regarding possible future joint projects with Mexico's state-owned petroleum company PEMEX in the Gulf of Mexico. The embassy will continue to liaise with the Mexican Government on those plans and to identify possible opportunities for UK companies.

Overseas Students: Scholarships

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British embassies operate a bursary scheme for foreign students to study in the UK.

Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office offers Chevening scholarships to most countries except the EU and the US; Marshall scholarships to the US; and Chevening fellowships globally, including the EU and the US. In 2009-10 Chevening scholarships were offered through 112 British embassies or high commissions and through the governor's offices in three Overseas Territories.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

British Constitution

William Bain: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to bring forward proposals for the adoption of a written constitution for the United Kingdom.

Mark Harper: The British constitution is not, as it is in many countries, codified in a single document, although much of it is already written. It is made up of a complex web of statutes, conventions, and a corpus of common and other law. It is also informed by an interweaving of history and more modern democratic principles. There are no current plans to bring forward proposals for the adoption of a codified constitution for the United Kingdom.

Cabinet Committees: Nuclear Weapons

Tom Watson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he next expects the Cabinet Committee on Nuclear Deterrence and Security to meet.

Oliver Letwin: I have been asked to reply.
	The National Security Council has agreed the formation of a sub-committee to consider issues relating to nuclear deterrence and security. The date of the first meeting has not yet been finalised, but it is anticipated it will take place shortly.

Departmental Pay

Tom Brake: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was paid in bonuses to civil servants in his Department in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Nicholas Clegg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 15 June 2010,  Official Report, column 416W.

Parliamentary Privilege

William Bain: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the scope will be of his proposed review of the law on parliamentary privilege; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Harper: The Queen's Speech outlined the Government's intention to publish a draft Bill on reforming parliamentary privilege. The draft Bill will set out reforms to the law on parliamentary privilege to clarify its extent and application.

Royal Prerogative

William Bain: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to review the operation of the executive prerogative powers of the Crown.

Mark Harper: There are no current plans to review the executive prerogative powers of the Crown.

Voting Rights: Prisoners

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to introduce rights to vote at elections for prisoners.

Mark Harper: The Government are considering afresh the best way forward on the issue of prisoner voting rights.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Information Officers

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what budget has been established for the proposed Coalition Press Office.

Francis Maude: The Cabinet Office Board and Ministers are reviewing budgets in line with Government priorities.

Departmental Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the URL is of each website managed by  (a) his Department and  (b) each non-departmental public body and agency for which his Department is responsible.

Francis Maude: The information is as follows:
	List of URLs for the websites managed by:
	 (a) Cabinet Office
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
	www.civilservice.gov.uk
	www.data.gov.uk
	www.number10.gov.uk
	www.hmg.gov.uk
	www.fundingcentral.org.uk
	www.commonsleader.gov.uk
	www.leaderofthelords.gov.uk
	www.lordswhips.org.uk
	 (b) Non-departmental public bodies and agencies for which Cabinet Office is responsible
	http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/
	http://lordsappointments.independent.gov.uk
	www.civilserviceappealboard.gov.uk
	www.public-standards.gov.uk
	www.thecompact.org.uk
	www.iraqinquiry.org.uk
	www.capacitybuilders.org.uk
	www.improvingsupport.org.uk
	www.civilservicecommissioners.org
	www.publicappointmentscommissioner.org
	It is our aim to reduce radically the number of websites.

Departmental Press: Subscriptions

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 52W, on purchasing of PR Week, for how many staff members Chartered Institute of Public Relations membership fees are paid by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 52W.

Departmental Security

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps are taken to protect the security of the  (a) mobile telephone,  (b) personal digital assistant and  (c) computer equipment issued to staff in No. 10 Downing Street.

Francis Maude: There is a range of technical, procedural and people-related measures put in place to protect the security of mobile telephone, personal digital assistant and computer equipment issued to staff in No. 10 Downing Street in line with Government security policy and standards.

Departmental Travel

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 50W, on departmental travel, if he will publish the disaggregated figures which are available; and when he expects the budget profiling exercise to be completed.

Francis Maude: The budget profiling exercise will be completed after the Cabinet Office Board and Ministers have reviewed the options for revised budgets, in line with the new priorities for the Government.

Electoral Register: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate has been made of the number of people eligible to vote not registered to vote in  (a) the County of Greater Manchester,  (b) the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport and  (c) the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what estimate has been made of the number of people eligible to vote not registered to vote in  (a) the County of Greater Manchester,  (b) the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport and  (c) the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside. (2313)
	ONS does not have the data required to answer your question. Data are collected on the number of UK citizens resident in local authorities who are registered to vote, but no data are collected on the number of people who are eligible to vote but who choose not to register.
	The ONS population estimates are of the resident population and will include some people who are not eligible to vote.

Foreign Workers: EU Nationals

Denis MacShane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many EU nationals working in the UK  (a) entered and  (b) left the country in each month since May 2004.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many EU nationals working in the UK (a) entered and (b) left the country in each month since May 2004. (1888)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes annual estimates of migrants entering and leaving the UK. The attached table provides estimates of migration by KU citizens, where the main reason is for work related reasons, for each year since 2004. These estimates are based on the International Passenger Survey (IPS). The IPS is a sample survey and cannot provide monthly estimates of migration.
	Please note that the migration estimates provided only cover those visiting or leaving the UK for periods of twelve months or more. They will therefore exclude those entering or leaving the UK for less than twelve months. Also note that not all those travelling for work related reasons will find work in the UK. Similarly, those who travel for other purposes may subsequently work.
	These estimates are of numbers of moves each year rather than numbers of people. For instance, an individual could enter in one year, leave just over a year later and then enter again a year after that. They would appear three times in this table.
	
		
			  Long-Term International Migration, estimates from International Passenger Survey: annual data, 2004-08 
			  Citizenship by main reason for migration (work related reasons only) 
			  United Kingdom (thousand) 
			All work related( 1)  Definite job( 1)  Looking for work( 1) 
			  Year  Citizenship  Estimate  %  Estimate  %  Estimate  % 
			 Inflow
			 2004 British 37 11 15 19 22 13 
			  Other EU25 65 14 51 16 14  29 
			 2005 British 48 13 23 21 25 15 
			  Other EU25 86 12 62 14 24 22 
			 2006 British 31 14 16 18 15 21 
			  Other EU25 83 12 55 15 28 20 
			 2007 British 32 12 14 19 18 17 
			  Other EU27 125 11 93 13 32 19 
			 2008 British 42 12 23 17 18 17 
			  Other EU27 99 11 70 13 29 19 
			 
			 Outflow
			 2004 British 63 9 40 11 22 16 
			  Other EU25 17 19 8  28 9  27 
			 2005 British 71 9 52 10 20 15 
			  Other EU25 21 21 13  28 7  30 
			 2006 British 81 9 57 11 24 14 
			  Other EU25 25 21 9  28 16  28 
			 2007 British 74 8 53 10 21 17 
			  Other EU27 35 16 14 22 21 23 
			 2008 British 90 10 72 13 19 12 
			  Other EU27 53 16 26 17 27  27 
			  Note s: 1. Migration between the UK and the Republic of Ireland is included in IPS estimates for 2008 but excluded for previous years. 2. Conditional formatting has been applied to the standard error percentages. A migration figure with a standard error of >25% is not considered to be reliable and is in italics. standard error % = ------ x 100 estimate

Ministers: Codes of Practice

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 51W, on Ministers: codes of practice, how many Ministers have  (a) returned and  (b) not returned letters to his Department confirming that (i) they have read the code of conduct and (ii) that their personal circumstances are not such that they breach the code.

Francis Maude: As usual, a list of Ministers' relevant interests will be published. This will be done in due course.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 52W, on non-departmental public bodies, if he will publish the names and addresses of all non-departmental public bodies and agencies in a single location.

Francis Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 June 2010,  Official Report, column 332W.

Office for National Statistics: Publications

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make it his policy to ensure that all national statistics are published in a machine-readable open format.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Jil Matheson, dated 11 June 2010:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question asking if the Minister for the Cabinet Office will make it his policy to ensure that all National Statistics are published in a machine readable open format.
	Current policy on the release of National Statistics, as outlined in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, states that statistics should be disseminated in a form that enables and encourages analysis and re-use. Also, that datasets and reference databases should be released in formats that are convenient to users.
	Recently, the Office for National Statistics opened up access for web developers to over two billion data items right down to local neighbourhood level, incorporating data from across the Government Statistical Service.
	The official statistics Publication Hub provides a single point of access to all published National Statistics and, in support of the drive to improve public accessibility to data, we continue to work closely with the Cabinet Office to feed National and Official Statistics directly to data.gov.uk via the Publication Hub. Indeed, a significant proportion of entries on data.gov.uk are Official Statistics.
	We are continuing to invest in improving the accessibility of official statistics and consider this an important part of the official statistics agenda.

Public Sector: Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many employees there are in the UK public sector.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, 1 have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning, how many employees there are in the UK public sector. (2128)
	Estimates of employment for the UK public sector are published on a quarterly basis by the Office for National Statistics. The latest date for which information is available is March 2010.
	The number of UK public sector employees as at March 2010 was 6.090 million.

Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's announcement of 24 May 2010 and pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2010,  Official Report, column 69W, on public expenditure: Wales, which of his Department's non-devolved public expenditure savings will be incurred in Wales; and what estimate he has made of the likely financial savings.

Francis Maude: The information requested is not available centrally and therefore is available only at disproportionate cost. The Cabinet Office's share of the public expenditure savings has been recorded in the HM Treasury COINS database.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Air Conditioning

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of air conditioning systems operating at over 250 kilowatts had been inspected for energy efficiency by 4 January 2009; and what proportion of such systems operating at over 12 kilowatts had been inspected on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Andrew Stunell: The information is not currently available. Air conditioning inspections are not currently lodged onto the England and Wales non-domestic energy performance register on a mandatory basis.

Air Conditioning

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the adequacy of arrangements for local authority trading standards officers to monitor the inspection of the energy efficiency of air conditioning systems.

Andrew Stunell: This Department has calculated that an additional 171 trading standards officers would be needed across England and Wales to enforce compliance with all energy efficiency regulations including the inspection of air conditioning systems. Additional funds were allocated to local authorities to recognise the new duties imposed by the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007.

Air Conditioning

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the average cost to businesses of compliance with the arrangements for inspecting the energy efficiency of air conditioning systems.

Andrew Stunell: This Department has estimated that the average cost of air conditioning system inspections over a five year period would be about £600 for complex systems and about £75-£100 for packaged units.

Air Conditioning

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the likely reduction in emissions from the use of air conditioning systems arising from full compliance with regulations for their inspection.

Andrew Stunell: The Regulatory Impact Assessment of Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Articles 7-10, The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 estimated that there would be savings of approximately 930,000 metric tonnes of carbon during the period from 2008-20.

Fire Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to continue with the FireControl project; and what assessment he has made of the effects of the project on  (a) the quality of service offered by control rooms and  (b) the staffing levels of control centres in (i) England and (ii) the West Midlands.

Bob Neill: The previous Government's FiReControl project has been subject to delays and increasing costs.
	We are looking closely at this project to establish what we can do to improve the situation. We are committed to ensuring value-for-money for the taxpayer, improving resilience and stopping the forced regionalisation of the fire service.
	We will carefully consider the implications of any decisions before announcing the next steps.
	Responsibility for providing an effective call handling and mobilisation service remains the responsibility of local fire and rescue authorities, including ensuring adequate staffing levels.

Housing: Regeneration

Gordon Birtwistle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to the public purse has been of the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder programme in each year since 2008.

Andrew Stunell: Totals for 2007-08 to 2009-10 are given in the following table:
	
		
			   HMR funding (£ million) 
			 2007-08 405 
			 2008-09 381 
			 2009-10 346 
		
	
	The Housing Market Renewal Programme was included in the £6.2 billion of savings from Government spending in 2010-11 announced on 24 May. The budget for 2010-11 announced in December 2009 has been reduced by £50 million. The mechanism by which this reduction is achieved will be subject to consultation and individual allocations for 2010-11 will be confirmed after the emergency Budget is completed on June 22.

Land Use: Agriculture

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will issue revised planning guidance to prevent the development of the best and most versatile farmland in all but exceptional circumstances.

Bob Neill: The Government will publish and present to Parliament a simple and consolidated national planning policy framework setting out our national economic, environmental and social priorities. An announcement on how we propose to take forward the national framework and the implications for specific areas of planning policy will be made in due course.
	The protection of a valuable national resource such as good quality farmland is clearly an appropriate topic to include in the national framework.

Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to replace the Local Authority Business Growth Initiative.

Bob Neill: The Government have confirmed that it will provide incentives for local authorities to deliver sustainable development, including for businesses. We are considering how we will take this forward.

Local Development Frameworks

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will undertake a review of local development frameworks in light of the ending of regional spatial strategies.

Bob Neill: The Secretary of State has already signalled the Government's intention to revoke the regional spatial strategies and he has written to all local planning authorities and the Planning Inspectorate to remind them that this emerging policy is a material consideration in dealing with applications and appeals. We will be providing more details on our proposals and the implication of the abolition of regional spatial strategies, for local development frameworks soon but it is our intention that local authorities should be able to revise their local development framework to reflect this change.
	The coalition agreement also included a commitment to radically reform the planning system and give neighbourhoods far more ability to determine the shape of places in which their inhabitants live. In the light of this we will review some elements of the local development framework system itself to ensure it reflects our policy on decentralisation and a simpler planning system.

Local Government Finance

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the future of the local area agreement process following changes he announced to Reward Grant Funding; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: We are committed to a radical devolution of power and financial autonomy to local government and community groups. The future of local area agreements will be considered in this context and we will make further announcements in due course.

Local Government Finance: Barnsley

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the likely change to his Department's capital investment allocation for Barnsley in  (a) percentage and  (b) cash terms in 2010-11; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: The announcement on 24 May set out the immediate savings of over £6 billion that needed to be made as down-payment on the public deficit. We continue to review the position on all budgets and any further decisions on funding for 2010-11 will be taken at the Emergency Budget on 22 June. A full review of capital projects will be undertaken once the final funding position for 2010-11 is clear.

Local Government Finance: Barnsley

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the likely change to his Department's aggregate external finance allocation for Barnsley in  (a) percentage and  (b) cash terms in 2010-11; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State laid in the House on 10 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 15-17 WS.

Local Government: Manpower

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent assessment is of the effect on staffing levels of  (a) Tameside metropolitan borough council and  (b) Stockport metropolitan borough council of the implementation of the local government savings programme.

Bob Neill: We have asked local authorities to make a contribution of £1.166 billion to the £6.2 billion of cross Government savings in 2010-11 to enable the Government to take immediate action to start to tackle the fiscal deficit. Local government are free to make their own decisions about where savings are found. We have ensured that councils have the flexibility to take decisions locally on how to deliver the savings needed without impacting on essential frontline services.

Mayors

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to announce the 12 English cities which he is to propose should have an elected mayor.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 239W.

Non-domestic Rates: Empty Property

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to retain the £18,000 rateable value below which empty property rates are not payable; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: We will keep this matter under review.

Planning

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Government plan to implement the draft Planning Policy Statement on  (a) Planning for a Healthy and Natural Environment and  (b) Planning for a Low Carbon Future.

Bob Neill: The Government will publish and present to Parliament a simple and consolidated national planning policy framework setting out our national economic, environmental and social priorities. An announcement on how we propose to take forward the national framework and the implications for specific areas of planning policy will be made in due course.

Social Rented Housing: Finance

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 454, on affordable housing, whether the £170 million of funding announced by the Government for social rented housing is in addition to funding agreed by the previous administration.

Andrew Stunell: Given the unprecedented size of the budget deficit we have had to identify savings across Government. We have identified £6.2 billion of savings this year as announced on 24 May. As part of this Treasury identified some £500 million by recycling efficiency savings, and have used £170 million of this to safeguard delivery of social rented homes.
	The previous Government made commitments that were not fully and securely funded. This includes a total £780 million towards housing priorities including towards the Housing Pledge. In order to address this, and emphasising Government's commitment to housing provision, Government made £170 million available to safeguard delivery of around 4,000 otherwise unfunded social rented homes to start on site this year, protecting 3,500 jobs and prioritising provision for the most vulnerable.
	The Homes and Communities Agency will not enter into any new or further commitments against its uncommitted budgets until the position is clarified at the Budget on 22 June. We are working with colleagues in HMT to secure the necessary funding at Budget and the HCA will continue with committed programmes as usual.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Accidents: EU Law

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress has been made in complying with the European Union requirement under Article 18 section 2b of Regulation (EC) No. 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council, with regard to reporting of injury statistics; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: Discussions have been taking place in the European Commission's advisory group (the Senior Officials Group on Standardisation's ad hoc Market Surveillance Group) involving BIS officials, the Commission and other Member States with a view to developing a consistent approach towards implementation of the article 18(2b) provision. They have highlighted the need for the Commission to take the lead in developing a Europe-wide consensus on the correct understanding and application of the provision. We understand that the services of the Commission are sympathetic to this approach and would like to take it forward possibly via a multi-annual programme for market surveillance.
	This Department will play a full part in helping to establish a consensus and in doing so will take account of other developments taking place in the United Kingdom and across the European Union on the collection of injury statistics.

Advantage West Midlands

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people are employed by Advantage West Midlands; how many people compose the non-executive Board of Advantage West Midlands; and what the total cost to the public purse of payments to  (a) employees and  (b) Board members is to date.  [Official Report, 29 June 2010, Vol. 512, c. 3MC.]

Mark Prisk: The following tables show:
	
		
			  (a) Number of and cost of employees 
			   Number/£ 
			 Number of employees headcount (full-time equivalent (322)) 346 
			 Cost (£) 18,358,000 
		
	
	Staff numbers are as at the snapshot reference date 31 March 2010 and cost is for the financial year 2009-10. Costs for payroll employees are defined as pay bill i.e. salary, ERNICs and pension; and
	
		
			  (b) Number of and cost of board members 
			   Number/£ 
			 Number of board members (including chair) 15 
			 Cost (£) 231,412 
		
	
	Board member costs are from the 2008-09 financial year and include chair pension costs and board travel expenses. Board members now receive a remuneration of £8,666 per annum for minimum of two days per month with no pension entitlement.
	The chair receives a remuneration of £81,718 per annum for three days a month and receives a pension.
	Under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 an RDA board must have 15 members with the majority being business positions.

Apprentices

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many people in  (a) Wigan constituency,  (b) the North West region and  (c) England started an apprenticeship in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many people in  (a) Wigan constituency,  (b) the North West region and  (c) England started an advanced apprenticeship in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many people in  (a) Wigan constituency,  (b) the North West region and  (c) England started a higher apprenticeship in each of the last five years.

John Hayes: Table 1 shows the number of Apprenticeship (Level 2) Programme Starts, table 2 shows the number of Advanced Apprenticeship (Level 3) Programme Starts and table 3 shows the number of Higher Level Apprenticeship (Level 4) Programme Starts in Wigan Parliamentary Constituency, the North West Government Office Region and England for years 2004-05 to 2008-09, the most recent year for which full year data is available.
	
		
			  Table 1: Apprenticeship (Level 2) Programme Starts by Geography for 2004-05 and 2008-09 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Wigan Parliamentary Constituency 260 250 290 380 300 
			 North West 23,600 20,400 21,700 23,800 23,600 
			 England 135,100 122,800 127,400 151,800 158,500 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Advanced Apprenticeship (Level 3) Programme Starts by Geography for 2004-05 and 2008-09 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Wigan Parliamentary Constituency 140 120 130 170 160 
			 North West 9,700 9,200 10,500 11,700 12,900 
			 England 53,900 52,100 56,900 72,900 81,300 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Higher Level Apprenticeship (Level 4) Programme Starts by Geography for 2004-05 and 2008-09 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Wigan Parliamentary Constituency - - - - - 
			 North West - - - - - 
			 England - - 100 100 200 
			  Notes 1. Figures for Wigan Parliamentary Constituency are rounded to the nearest ten. All other figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Figures are based upon home postcode of the learner. 3.'-' Indicates a base value of less than five for Parliamentary Constituency and less than fifty for Government Office Region and England. 4. The England figure contains a small amount of counts where the postcode of the learner is outside England and also learners where the postcode is not known.  Source:  Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on the number of Apprenticeship starts by Parliamentary Constituency, Local Authority, Government Office Region and for England is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 24 March, and revised on 22 April:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/sfrmar10

Apprentices

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many of the apprenticeship places announced since May 2010 are to be allocated to each region; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: Our announcement on 24 May that, of the £6.2 billion savings for 2010-11, a total of £150 million will be recycled to support capacity for 50,000 extra apprenticeship places demonstrates our commitment to high-quality skills.
	The Skills Funding Agency operates a national system to fund post-19 further education and training, there are no regional allocations. The expectation is that colleges and training organisations will look to make available additional apprenticeship places where there is local demand.

Arts: North East

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on the provision of support to the creative sector in the North East.

Mark Prisk: The creative industries are an important contributor to the UK economy. It is essential to ensure that we create the right conditions for the creative industries to be able to innovate and grow.

Better Regulation Executive: Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many ideas for better regulation have been submitted to his Department through the Better Regulation Executive web pages since 7 May 2010.

Mark Prisk: Since 7 May 2010, 13 suggestions have been received through the Better Regulation Executive's suggestions tool, which is now located on the Business Link website (as at 15 June 2010).

Better Regulation Executive: Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many unique visits have been made to the Better Regulation Executive web pages since 7 May 2010.

Mark Prisk: Since 7 May 2010, there have been 31,830 individual sessions on the Better Regulation Executive's web pages, now part of the Business Link website (as at 15 June 2010).
	A 'session' is defined as a series of clicks on the site by an individual visitor during a specific period of time. A session is initiated when the visitor arrives at the site, and it ends when the browser is closed or there is a period of inactivity.

Better Regulation Executive: Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much it cost his Department to maintain the Better Regulation Executive web pages in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mark Prisk: The Better Regulation Executive's web pages are now incorporated into the Business Link website.
	Hosting for the Better Regulation Executive's web pages (including the impact assessment library and the suggestions tool) currently costs £6,220 per year (April 2010 to April 2011).

Broadband

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what definition of the term super fast broadband he uses.

Edward Vaizey: Super fast broadband means broadband of sufficient speed and quality to deliver the services that will lead to Britain having the best broadband network in Europe. The technology used to deliver this could be fixed or wireless but will represent a significant upgrade on today's fixed and wireless networks.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to expand the provision of broadband in rural areas.

Edward Vaizey: As stated in the coalition's joint programme for Government, we will seek to introduce superfast broadband in remote areas at the same time as in more populated areas. On 8 June, the Secretary of State for Culture, the Olympics, Media and Sport set out the Government's plans for ensuring the UK has the best superfast broadband network in Europe by the end of the Parliament. These plans include enabling access to existing infrastructure to reduce the cost of deployment. Further, the Secretary of State proposed three market testing projects schemes for superfast broadband in rural areas. The Secretary of State's full speech can be read at:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/ministers_speeches/7132.aspx
	As a first step towards this ambition, the Government are also committed to making a service level of 2Mbps available in towns and villages still without a basic level of access. The office charged with delivering this universal service commitment, Broadband Delivery UK, will be holding an industry event in July to provide further information on the approach to meeting the 2Mbps service commitment and the market testing schemes.

Conditions of Employment

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which section of his Department is responsible for policy on  (a) Royal Mail and  (b) the review of employment law.

Edward Davey: Officials within the Shareholder Executive are responsible for the Government's shareholder interests in Royal Mail, and officials within the Information Economy Directorate are responsible for the regulatory framework for UK postal services.
	Officials within the Department's Employment Relations Directorate and the Better Regulation Executive will consider the detail of the approach to reviewing employment laws, alongside other colleagues from other Government Departments.

Conditions of Employment

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received on his Department's review of employment law to date.

Edward Davey: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and other BIS Ministers have had several meetings with business and employee representatives to discuss a range of issues, including employment law.

Copyright: Art Works

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to extend the artist's resale right to the estates of deceased artists.

Edward Davey: The Artist's Resale Right (Amendment) Regulations 2009 delayed until 1 January 2012 the application of the Artist's Resale Right Regulations 2006 to the estates of deceased artists in the UK.
	Resale right will be payable on sales of works by deceased artists in accordance with the requirements of the 2006 regulations where the contract date for the sale is on or after 1 January 2012.

Debt Relief Orders

Therese Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will review the eligibility criteria for the establishment of a debt relief order for the purposes of removing the criterion relating to funds held in a pension fund which are not accessible prior to retirement.

Edward Davey: A consultation issued in March, which is available on The Insolvency Service's website, invited views on this issue. Debt Relief Orders are aimed at the most vulnerable, and the consultation asked whether those with a pension fund should be eligible for this form of debt relief. I will consider this issue in the light of responses to the consultation.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which Ministers in his Department have been issued with  (a) a Blackberry,  (b) an iPhone,  (c) another make of mobile telephone and  (d) a personal digital assistant supplied by the Department.

Edward Davey: The Department has issued the following Ministers with Blackberrys:
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Vince Cable)
	My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science (Mr Willetts)
	My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Business, Enterprise, Deregulation and Better Regulation (Mr Prisk)
	My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs (Mr Davey)
	My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox)
	My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Lifelong Learning (Mr Hayes) has been issued with a mobile phone.
	The Department does not issue iPhones or personal digital assistants.

Higher Education

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which universities each Minister in his Department has visited since their appointment.

David Willetts: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has visited the university of Glasgow.
	I have visited the university of Birmingham and Oxford Brookes university.
	My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Business and Enterprise has visited Coventry university.

Manufacturing Industries: Government Assistance

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to support the manufacturing sector.

Mark Prisk: The Government fully recognise the importance of manufacturing, and its role in achieving a balanced economy. Working with business we want to create a supportive environment for growth that will encourage innovation, exports and business investment. In particular we will consider the implementation of the Dyson Review and how this can help make the UK the leading high-tech exporter in Europe. We will decide on the best framework for manufacturing policy shortly, recognising that we are living in a world of financial constraint.

Northwest Regional Development Agency: Wigan

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to his answer of 10 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 234-36W, on the North West Regional Development Agency: Wigan, which of the projects have been allocated funding on  (a) an ongoing and  (b) a single grant basis.

Mark Prisk: All of the grants outlined in my earlier answer are single, time limited grant agreements, some of which may be spread over several financial years. The exception is funding to the Coalfields Regeneration Programme (Bickershaw Colliery Estate management costs) which forms part of the ongoing costs associated with the project.

Northwest Regional Development Agency: Wigan

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to which projects in the Wigan local authority area the North West Regional Development Agency is considering allocating funding in financial year 2010-11.

Mark Prisk: For 2010-11 the following project has received concept agreement but has not yet been fully appraised or approved:
	Parsonage Colliery Phase.
	For 2010-11 the following pre-pipeline projects are under consideration by NWDA. No corporate decision has been made, and there is no confirmation whether these will proceed further:
	Project Nice;
	Wigan On Side Centre, Mesnes Park;
	Turnpike Centre, Leigh; and
	365-E Land Martland Park, Wigan.

Northwest Regional Development Agency: Wigan

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which projects in the Wigan local authority area have been allocated funding by the North West Regional Development Agency in financial year 2010-11.

Mark Prisk: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Project name  LA district  Forecast spend 2010-11 (£) 
			 Wigan: Martland Park Wigan 40,000 
			 Wigan: Bickershaw Colliery, off Plank Lane, Leigh Wigan 6,768,502 
			 Wigan: Sandyforth Farm Phase 2 restoration Wigan 62,810 
			 Wigan-Leigh Sports Village Wigan 14,684 
			 Computonics Ltd (SFI) Wigan 362,160 
			 Chemviron Carbon Limited Wigan 30,000 
			 Octagon Communications Ltd Wigan 16,000 
			 Martin Yaffe International Ltd Wigan 174,572 
			 Leigh Town Centre Masterplan Wigan 50,000 
			 Bradford Pharma Ltd 2nd App Wigan 46,052 
			 Value Works Ltd Wigan 182,850 
			 Nutrisport Ltd Wigan 168,900 
			 Business Start Up (Phase II)-Wigan Wigan 9,175 
			 XpertRule Software Ltd Wigan 65,962 
			 Flavours & Essences Ltd Wigan 90,000 
			 Optima Interiors Ltd Wigan 39,683 
			 atg UV Technology Limited 2 Wigan 58,074

Post Offices

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many post office branches have become Post Office Essentials branches in the last 12 months.

Edward Davey: Post Office Ltd's Essential model is a pilot format that incorporates a range of Post Office services into an existing retailer's offer. Post Office Ltd is currently operating 48 Post Office Essential pilots.

Post Offices

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what criteria are used in determining whether to change post office branches into Post Office Essentials branches.

Edward Davey: I have asked David Smith, the managing director of Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to my hon. Friend and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.

Post Offices

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will extend the Network Subsidy Scheme beyond 2011.

Edward Davey: The Government fully recognise the important social and economic role of post offices in the communities they serve. The Government are committed to making a social network payment to support the network in 2011-12, subject to state aid clearance from the European Commission. The Government are working with Post Office Ltd on funding requirements for the network beyond 2012.

Post Offices: Bank Services

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on establishing a Postbank.

Edward Davey: We have been clear in "The Coalition: our programme for government" that we will ensure that Post Offices are allowed to offer a wide range of services in order to sustain the network, and will look at the case for developing new sources of revenue, such as the creation of a Post Office Bank.

Regional Development Agencies

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what savings his Department requires  (a) Yorkshire Forward and  (b) each other regional development agency to make in the next three financial years;
	(2)  what guidance he has given to regional development agencies on the areas in which they should consider making budgetary savings;
	(3)  what  (a) process and  (b) timetable has been established for regional development agencies to submit proposals for implementing budgetary savings;
	(4)  whether Ministers are required to approve individual proposals for budgetary savings proposed by regional development agencies;
	(5)  what priority each regional development agency has given to expenditure on  (a) research and development,  (b) manufacturing and  (c) support for redundancies in their proposals for implementing budgetary savings;
	(6)  what plans each regional development agency has to publish its plans for implementing budgetary savings.

Mark Prisk: No final decisions have been made on the allocation of the £270 million budget savings between the regional development agencies. We will be writing to RDAs about the allocation shortly. We will then work with the RDA network to minimise the impact on priority programmes. Stakeholders and delivery partners involved in affected programmes and projects will be kept fully informed as specific decisions are made.

UK Trade and Investment: Finance

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding allocation his Department made to UK Trade and Investment for  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11; and what allocation it plans to make for 2011-12.

Mark Prisk: UKTI is a non-ministerial Government Department, funded from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and with its own Vote. FCO resources primarily funds people based overseas, BIS resource funds UK based people and UKTI's own resource pays for grants and third party delivery of services to business.
	BIS funding for 2009-10 was: £44.2 million. The original budget allocation for 2010-11 is £42.9 million. However, the final budget for 2010-11 may be revised downwards as a result of the Government's recently announced Departmental savings. Budget allocations for 2011-12 will be set as part of the Spending Review process, which is anticipated to conclude in autumn 2010.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Departmental Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the URL is of each website managed by  (a) his Department and  (b) each non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible.

Gregory Barker: Websites managed by the Department of Energy and Climate Change are as follows:
	
		
			   Website address 
			 DECC corporate site www.decc.gov.uk 
			 CHP Focus http://chp.decc.gov.uk/cms 
			 Oil and Gas Portal www.og.decc.gov.uk 
			 Energy Infrastructure Portal https://www.og.decc.gov.uk/EIP/pages/help.htm 
			 National Policy Statements consultation https://www.energynpsconsultation.decc.gov.uk/ 
			 Managing Radioactive Waste Safely http://mrws.decc.gov.uk/ 
			 Planning Renewables www.planningrenewables.org.uk 
			 PILOT www.pilottaskforce.co.uk 
			 UK Renewables Service www.ukrenewables.com 
			 AVOID: advice on avoiding dangerous climate change www.avoid.uk.net 
			 Electricity Networks Strategy Group www.ensg.gov.uk 
			 RIMNET www.rimnet.gov.uk 
			 Energie Helpline www.Energiehelpline.co.uk 
			 ACTONCO2 http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/actonco2/home.html 
			 CORWM www.corwm.org.uk 
			 HFCAAT www.Hfccat-demo.org 
			   
		
	
	Websites managed by the DECC NDPBs and agencies are as follows:
	
		
			   Website address 
			 Nuclear Decommissioning Authority www.nda.gov.uk 
			 The Coal Authority www.coal.gov.uk 
			 The Carbon Trust www.carbontrust.co.uk 
			 Of gem www.ofgem.gov.uk 
			 Energy Saving Trust www.est.org.uk 
			 Committee on Climate Change www.theccc.org.uk 
			 Civil Nuclear Police Authority www.cnpa.police.uk/ 
			 Committee on Radioactive Waste Management www.corwm.org.uk 
			 Energy Technology Scheme www.eca.gov.uk/etl

Departmental Reviews

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 137W, on Government Departments: reviews, what reviews his Department is undertaking; and what the  (a) purpose and  (b) timescale of each is.

Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Leader of the House of Commons on 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 32WS.
	The Department will bring forward detailed information about reviews in due course.

Nuclear Power: Finance

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much the UK paid in contributions to the  (a) International Atomic Energy Agency and  (b) Euratom Supply Agency in the last 10 years.

Charles Hendry: The UK has paid a total of 116.95 million euros and US$ 84.42 million to the International Atomic Agency over the past 10 years. The UK does not make any direct contribution to the Euratom Supply Agency.

Trade Unions

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to consult trade unions in his Department on cost reduction plans.

Gregory Barker: The Recognition Agreement (September 2009) between the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the recognised trade unions, the Public and Commercial Services Union, Prospect, and the First Division Association, clearly sets out the agreed processes for consultation.
	The formal DECC Consultative Council meetings are held twice annually, normally in September and February. DECC Consultative Council has also appointed sub-committees to discuss particular issues which may not be appropriate to the main HQ Consultative Council.
	Additionally, the DECC senior management team meets frequently and less formally with the trades unions through the year to address any emerging issues as they arise.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Rape: Defendants Anonymity

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on the implications for women of proposals to extend anonymity to defendants in rape cases.

Caroline Flint: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what assessment her Department has made of the implications for women of proposals to extend anonymity to defendants in rape cases.

Lynne Featherstone: The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have, with the whole House, made clear the desire to increase the number of successful rape prosecutions and send more rapists to jail, as well as provide the best possible support to victims of this appalling crime. The Government regard rape as a very serious crime which should be prosecuted in all cases where sufficient evidence exists.
	We will bring proposals to Parliament when all the options have been carefully considered. Our consideration of the options will include an equality impact assessment.

Asylum

Simon Kirby: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what recent representations she has received on the granting of asylum to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons under threat of legal sanction in their country of origin.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government have received representations on this issue in the context of the recent hearings at the Supreme Court. The Home Secretary has also met with Ben Summerskill from Stonewall and received a copy of their recent report, "No Going Back" about the experiences of lesbian and gay people in the asylum system.
	We will stop the deportation of asylum seekers who have had to leave particular countries because of their sexual orientation or gender identification puts them at proven risk of imprisonment, torture or execution.

Equal Pay Act

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities if she will bring forward proposals to mark the 40th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act 1970; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: Last month I made my first speech as a Minister for Equalities at an excellent event organised by the Fawcett Society and others to mark the 40th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act.
	As the Queen's Speech made clear, we are committed to promoting equal pay for women. We are currently considering options, and we will make an announcement in due course. We agree that progress on equal pay is needed, and we made clear in the Queen's Speech that we will work to promote equal pay for women, as well as remove barriers to flexible working. We are currently considering our next steps, and we will make an announcement in due course.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Food: Procurement

Dan Rogerson: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission what steps the House of Commons Commission is taking to set high standards of animal welfare for the in-house procurement of food.

Stuart Bell: The House of Commons Catering and Retail Services recognises its responsibility to carry out its procurement activities in an environmentally and socially responsible manner and operates a Sustainable Procurement Policy, which covers all key components of the purchasing operation including animal welfare. The policy seeks to work within the guidelines set out by the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative, and in doing so endeavours to contribute to the Government's Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy. A copy of the policy will be placed in the Library.

Former Members: ICT

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission what guidance was issued to hon. Members in the last Parliament who have not been returned to the House on the retention and disposal of ICT equipment purchased with funds from their allowances as hon. Members; and if he will make a statement.

Stuart Bell: Guidance entitled 'Dissolution Arrangements' was issued to all Members of the previous Parliament. The full document can be viewed at:
	http://intranet.parliament.uk/Documents/intranet/assets/dissolution-arrangements.pdf
	Paragraphs 2.4 to 2.6 relate to the retention and disposal of ICT equipment purchased with funds from allowances as hon. Members.

TREASURY

Annuities

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to reform the requirement to purchase annuities at the age of 75 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Government are committed to removing the requirement to purchase a pension annuity by age 75. Further details, including information on when the Government intend to implement these proposals, will follow in due course.

Banks: Pay

Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether he plans to restrict access to bonus payments in excess of £30,000 per annum for employees of banks in receipt of public funding;
	(2)  whether he plans to reduce bonus payments to  (a) employees,  (b) directors,  (c) chief executives and  (d) chairmen of banks in receipt of public funding.

Mark Hoban: The banks in which the Government is a shareholder are managed at arm's length and on a commercial basis by UK Financial Investments Ltd (UKFI).
	UKFI will continue to work with Government investee banks to ensure that incentives are properly linked to long-term value creation.

Business: Thanet

Laura Sandys: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses  (a) were registered,  (b) were newly registered and  (c) ceased to be registered for value added tax in South Thanet in each year since 1997.

David Gauke: Between 1997 and 2008, the number of businesses registered for VAT at the start of the year, the number of businesses registering for VAT and the number of businesses deregistering for VAT in Thanet South are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Registrations  De-registrations  Start of year stock 
			 1997 195 165 1,775 
			 1998 175 150 1,805 
			 1999 170 150 1,830 
			 2000 195 150 1,850 
			 2001 150 165 1,895 
			 2002 200 150 1,880 
			 2003 235 170 1,935 
			 2004 225 165 2,000 
			 2005 200 185 2,060 
			 2006 220 175 2,070 
			 2007 210 145 2,115 
			 2008 - - 2,175 
		
	
	These figures came from the report 'Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations', published by The Department for Businesses Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in November 2008. This report has now been discontinued. An extended series covering the last two years could be produced only at disproportionate costs.

Departmental Translation Services

Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what  (a) documents and (b) other information for which (i) his Department and (ii) its associated public bodies are responsible are published or provided in the UK in languages other than English; for what reason each such publication is required to be made available in a language or languages other than English; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the translation work so incurred in the latest period for which figures are available.

Justine Greening: The documents translated for people in the UK who do not speak English, and where available estimated costs, are as follows:
	 HM Treasury
	HM Treasury translates documents into other languages on a case-by-case basis as requests are received.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer set out in August 2008,  Official Report, column 737W. Since then the following documents have been translated:
	Press Notice 108_08 translated into Welsh in November 2008 at a cost of £95.00.
	Chapter 1 of pre-Budget report 2008 translated into Welsh in December 2008 at a cost of £764.74.
	The executive summary of the document 'Reforming Financial Markets' translated into German in August 2009 at a cost of £253.09
	 HMRC
	HM Revenue and Customs conforms to the legal requirement to provide Welsh language services in accordance with the Welsh Language Act 1993 and HMRC's own Welsh Language Scheme. Documents and information that have been translated into languages other than English are:
	All of the most frequently used publications are translated into Welsh.
	Marketing campaigns involving the Welsh language media are translated into Welsh.
	Direct marketing products are translated into Welsh where there is a Welsh language notifier on the customer record.
	A selection of regional press ads for Contact Centre Directorate about the change in opening times of the Enquiry Centres were translated into Welsh. The additional cost of translation and typesetting is absorbed by our Welsh Language Unit. Communications and Marketing incurred no cost for the translation.
	Child Trust Fund fact sheets have been translated in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Tamil, Urdu and Polish.
	The information on estimated costs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	 NSI
	NS&I translates all of its (1) brochures into Welsh to stock at Welsh Post Offices, (2) after sales communications into Welsh upon request and (3) has a Welsh Language portal which is an abridged version of the English website on the NS&I website to meet it commitments under the Welsh Language Act. NS&I does not provide translation into any other language. The cost to NS&I of producing such translations in the latest period for which figures are available are:
	2009-10: £8,505.97
	 VOA
	In line with its commitment to the Welsh Language Act, the VOA publishes a range of leaflets and forms in bilingual English/Welsh format. These are used with council taxpayers and business ratepayers. The information on estimated costs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	 DMO
	Nil response.
	 GAD
	Nil response.
	 Royal Mint
	There are occasional requirements to translate correspondence for non-UK customers but the costs incurred are modest and are usually tied to commercial contracts which earn revenue for the Royal Mint.
	This was the arrangement under previous Administrations and has not changed.

National Assembly for Wales: Finance

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish details of the calculations that underpin the consequential changes to the funding of the National Assembly for Wales as announced on 24 May 2010, with particular reference to  (a) the population ratios and  (b) compatibility factors employed; and if he will make a statement.

Danny Alexander: The consequentials of the £6.2 billion cuts announced on 24 May 2010 were calculated through the Barnett formula in the usual way. The consequential cut for the Welsh Assembly Government was subsequently reduced by £1.4 million following confirmation of a cut to the Olympics budget, which is UK-wide and therefore not comparable for the purposes of the Barnett formula. Details of the operation of the Barnett formula were set out in the Statement of Funding Policy published by the Treasury in October 2007.

VAT: Construction

Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to reduce the level of value added tax on building repair and maintenance work.

David Gauke: All taxes are kept under review and any changes are announced by the Chancellor as part of the Budget process.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) premises and  (b) independent retailers (i) nationally, (ii) in the East Midlands and (iii) in Leicester have been fined for the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 18 years in each of the last five years.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) premises and  (b) independent retailers in (i) Tameside and (ii) Stockport were fined for the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 18 years in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: Data on the total number of fines issued by the courts and the average fine amount for "selling alcohol to persons under 18" broken down by criminal justice area within England and Wales, for each year between 2004-08 is provided in the following table. Data held on the court proceedings database cannot be broken down by individual area and it is not possible to separately identify those fines given to premises or independent retailers.
	
		
			  Number of fines imposed for selling alcohol to a person under 18( 1) , by criminal justice area( 2)  2004-08 
			  Criminal j ustice area  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Avon and Somerset 0 9 5 0 5 
			 Bedfordshire 5 9 22 1 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 1 7 18 10 8 
			 Cheshire 14 0 6 5 7 
			 Cleveland 7 10 6 11 6 
			 Cumbria 0 3 1 1 3 
			 Derbyshire 13 5 6 7 15 
			 Devon and Cornwall 4 3 4 0 0 
			 Dorset 2 7 0 0 3 
			 Durham 2 0 0 0 6 
			 Dyfed-Powys 6 1 13 3 3 
			 Essex 0 7 10 12 2 
			 Gloucestershire 1 4 8 2 7 
			 Greater Manchester 116 73 98 25 27 
			 Gwent 11 12 11 8 7 
			 Hampshire 6 7 0 4 4 
			 Hertfordshire 5 1 35 20 2 
			 Humberside 4 1 2 3 0 
			 Kent 10 9 2 1 6 
			 Lancashire 10 60 17 20 22 
			 Leicestershire 4 14 28 47 8 
			 Lincolnshire 2 0 1 2 5 
			 Merseyside 9 8 12 17 17 
			 Metropolitan police 126 198 176 120 59 
			 Norfolk 3 0 0 2 1 
			 North Wales 4 10 4 7 7 
			 North Yorkshire 12 0 11 9 1 
			 Northamptonshire 0 6 10 3 4 
			 Northumbria 32 53 17 4 9 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 9 23 3 4 
			 South Wales 23 39 54 23 17 
			 South Yorkshire 0 7 9 2 4 
			 Staffordshire 2 10 14 15 11 
			 Suffolk 0 3 2 0 1 
			 Surrey 8 9 15 2 6 
			 Sussex 1 0 16 10 4 
			 Thames Valley 9 5 12 11 1 
			 Warwickshire 25 6 1 1 0 
			 West Mercia 3 13 5 4 2 
			 West Midlands 36 54 42 43 30 
			 West Yorkshire 17 7 6 6 1 
			 Wiltshire 1 6 4 4 1 
			 Total England and Wales 534 685 726 468 326 
			 (1) Licensing Act 2003 S.146 and 147, Licensing (Occasional Permissions Act 1983 Schedule (Sec 3) para 4 (1), Licensing Act 1964 S.181A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1988 S.17 Licensing Act 2003 S.147 as added by Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006.  (2) In this table sentences at the Crown court are categorised according to the police force that prosecuted the offence which is not necessarily the area of the sentencing court.   Note s :  1. Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July, and August 2008. 2. The answer given here relates to the total number of fines imposed for the offences listed above it is not possible to separately identify those fines given to premises or independent retailers as this information is not recorded on the Courts Proceedings database.   Source:  Justice Statistics-Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice Ref: SENT(JSAS)169-l0 14/06/2010 
		
	
	
		
			  Average fine amount imposed for selling alcohol to a person under 18( 1) , by criminal justice area( 2)  2004-08 
			  £ 
			  Criminal j ustice area  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Avon and Somerset * 186.7 * * * 
			 Bedfordshire * 386.1 370.5 * * 
			 Cambridgeshire * 308.6 307.2 158.0 675.0 
			 Cheshire 209.6 * 296.7 * 1,050.0 
			 Cleveland 171.4 184.5 225.0 295.5 1,005.0 
			 Cumbria * * * * * 
			 Derbyshire 217.7 * 300.0 422.9 483.0 
			 Devon and Cornwall * * * * * 
			 Dorset * 205.7 * * * 
			 Durham * * * * 328.3 
			 Dyfed-Powys 248.3 * 441.5 * * 
			 Essex * 278.6 622.5 550.0 * 
			 Gloucestershire * * 308.8 * 447.1 
			 Greater Manchester 228.7 227.7 259.2 366.0 335.7 
			 Gwent 181.8 222.5 313.6 209.4 250.0 
			 Hampshire 290.0 257.1 * * * 
			 Hertfordshire * * 235.0 370.3 * 
			 Humberside * * * * * 
			 Kent 336.0 363.3 * * 633.3 
			 Lancashire 160.5 200.8 269.4 264.5 152.5 
			 Leicestershire * 291.1 249.1 306.6 482.5 
			 Lincolnshire * * * * * 
			 Merseyside 195.0 165.0 161.7 202.1 203.5 
			 Metropolitan police 285.9 283.0 314.0 470.7 505.9 
			 Norfolk * * * * * 
			 North Wales * 238.5 * 312.9 239.3 
			 North Yorkshire 185.4 * 150.0 269.4 * 
			 Northamptonshire * 316.7 425.0 * * 
			 Northumbria 241.6 208.0 520.0 * 337.8 
			 Nottinghamshire * 194.4 253.7 * * 
			 South Wales 193.9 240.4 318.5 267.4 260.6 
			 South Yorkshire * 117.9 155.6 * * 
			 Staffordshire * 195.0 154.6 173.3 271.4 
			 Suffolk * * * * * 
			 Surrey 278.1 316.7 356.7 * 413.3 
			 Sussex * * 173.4 322.5 * 
			 Thames Valley 218.9 * 290.8 441.8 * 
			 Warwickshire 102.0 101.7 * * * 
			 West Mercia * 290.8 * * * 
			 West Midlands 271.4 203.2 373.9 403.7 304.7 
			 West Yorkshire 260.9 260.7 385.0 358.3 * 
			 Wiltshire * 288.3 * * * 
			 * = Figure suppressed as number too small to give meaningful average.  (1) Licensing Act 2003 S.146 and 147, Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 Schedule (Sec 3) para 4(1), Licensing Act 1964 S.181A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1988 S.17, Licensing Act 2003 S.147 as added by Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006.  (2) In this table sentences at the Crown court are categorised according to the police force that prosecuted the offence which is not necessarily the area of the sentencing court.   Notes:  1. Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July, and August 2008. 2. The answer given here relates to the total number of fines imposed for the offences listed.   Source:  Justice Statistics-Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice Ref: SENT(JSAS)169-10 14/06/2010.

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many charges there were for alcohol-related offences of antisocial behaviour in  (a) Tameside and  (b) Stockport in the last 12 months; and how many of these were of those under the age of 18 years.

James Brokenshire: The court proceedings database does not contain information on charging.

Departmental Databases

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many databases managed by her Department hold information relating to at least 100,000 people.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 15 June 2010
	The core Home Office and its Executive agencies currently manage 31 such databases in operational casework areas for a range of public services, including personal applications by members of the public.
	As part of the Government's recently announced spending review, all Government ICT enabled programmes are being reviewed to consider possible mergers, decommissioning and/or abolition of appropriate databases.

Detention Centres: Children

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were detained in the course of immigration proceedings in  (a) 1997 and  (b) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Damian Green: The requested information is not available. The published statistics on persons detained as at specific dates in 1997 related to asylum applicants only and did not separately identify children.
	The latest published statistics show there were 30 people detained solely under Immigration Act powers recorded as being less than 18 years of age as at 31 March 2010. In 2009, 1,065 children entered detention solely under Immigration Act powers; this information was published for the first time in 2009.
	This information relating to 2010 is available in tables 3.5 to 3.8 of the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom, January to March 2010 and the information relating to 2009 is available in table 9.2 of the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom, October to December 2009 available in the Library of the House and the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
	I recently announced a review into the detention of children for asylum purposes so it can be brought to an end this summer. We have already ended the overnight detention of children at Dungavel.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many student visas have been issued to  (a) EU and  (b) non-EU students in academic year 2009-10.

Damian Green: Under the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006, EEA nationals and their family members have the right of free movement within the territory of EEA member states. They may therefore come to the UK to seek work, take up employment or study without applying for Leave to Enter. No student visas are therefore issued to EEA nationals.
	The total number of student visas issued to non-EEA nationals in the Financial Year 2009-10 was 288,010. This figure is based on the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summaries which have been published on the UK Border Agency's website,
	www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk
	Most non-EEA nationals who were issued with visas in 2009 in order to study in the UK in the current academic year would have been issued with visas during the summer months, and would therefore be included in the total for the financial year given above.

Identity Cards

Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the future allocation of identity cards to foreign nationals.

Theresa May: holding answer 8 June 2010
	We are continuing to use biometric residence cards, in accordance with EU law.

Identity Cards

Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the likely level of savings to the public purse consequent on the cancellation of the identity card scheme, taking into account the cost of contract termination, in the next three years;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the savings to be made consequent on the cancellation of the National Identity Register, taking into account the cost of contract termination, in the next three years.

Theresa May: holding answer 8 June 2010
	It is estimated that exchequer savings of approximately £86 million will be realised from cancelling ID cards and the National Identity Register over the next four years. Further savings in the region of £134 million will be realised by halting the introduction of fingerprint biometric passports, although these further savings are currently the subject of commercial negotiation with suppliers to protect the taxpayer's interests.

Identity Cards

Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of her Department's expenditure on identity cards since the inception of the national identity scheme.

Theresa May: holding answer 8 June 2010
	Between 2003 and March 2006, the Home Office spent a total of £41 million developing the policy, legislation and business case for the introduction of identity cards.
	Responsibility for identity cards was transferred to the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) on its establishment in April 2006. Between then and March 2010, IPS spent a total of £251 million on projects to establish identity cards, second biometric passports and other related programmes.

Identity Cards

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many identity cards had been issued to foreign nationals on 31 May 2010.

Damian Green: No identity cards have been issued to foreign nationals. However as at 31 May 2010, a total of 222,490 biometric residence permits had been issued to foreign nationals.

Identity Cards

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in Wigan constituency have been issued with an identity card by her Department.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people in  (a) the UK,  (b) the North West and  (c) Greater Manchester have applied for an ID card.

Damian Green: The Identity and Passport Service is not able to provide information relating to particular constituencies or regions for identity card applications. However, as of 11 June 2010 there have been just fewer than 15,000 identity cards issued in the United Kingdom.

Illegal Immigrants: Northern Ireland

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants have been discovered working in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; how many such people have been deported; and what the average length of time was between discovery and deportation in such cases.

Damian Green: The numbers of immigration offenders that have been arrested for working illegally in Northern Ireland in the last five financial years are:
	14 in 2005-06;
	eight in 2006-07;
	44 in 2007-08;
	eight in 2008-09;
	41 in 2009-10; and
	two in 2010-11.
	These data are normally used for management information only and are not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics publications. These data are therefore provisional and may be subject to change.
	The number of people that have been deported and the average length of time between discovery and deportation in these cases are not data that are readily available. The information captured is recorded on two separate databases and there is no unique identifier that is shared between the two systems.

Immigration Cases: Appeals

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, at what proportion of general immigration cases the Secretary of State has not been represented at appeal stage in the last 12 months; and what steps the UK Border Agency takes to protect children in such cases.

Damian Green: The representation rate at all appeals heard in country is currently 69% up to June 2010.
	We can identify certain types of appeal case involving children from our database e.g. unaccompanied asylum seeking children. We are not able to identify from the database all types of cases. We aim to represent the Secretary of State at all asylum cases and usually achieve between 90-95% representation rate.
	Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 requires the Home Secretary to make arrangements to have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. To this end statutory guidance has been issued to UKBA staff on how to apply this duty and training on identifying child welfare and protection issues is provided for staff whose work involves decisions that affect children.
	UKBA has appointed a Children's Champion who is responsible for advising the Chief Executive and UKBA Board on all issues to do with child welfare and child protection.

Immigration Controls

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to decide the level at which the cap on non-EU economic migrants to the United Kingdom will be set.

Damian Green: We believe that immigration is too high and needs to be brought under control. An annual limit on economic migration from outside the EU is part of a package to deliver this.
	We will hold a short and focused consultation with business and other interested sectors before taking the final decision on both the implementation mechanisms for the limit and the level at which it should be set.

Immigration: Gurkhas

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former members of the Brigade of Gurkhas who have chosen to settle in the UK since the change in the immigration rules are aged  (a) below 40 years,  (b) between 41 and 50 years,  (c) between 51 ad 60 years and  (d) above 60 years old.

Damian Green: holding answer 15 June 2010
	The UK Border Agency does not routinely analyse management information on the individual ages of former members of the Brigade of Gurkhas who exercise their right to settle in the UK. To do so would incur disproportionate costs as this would involve a manual check.

Language Analysis Testing

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what proportion of asylum cases the UK Border Agency had used language analysis testing when such testing was suspended on 31 March 2010; and what plans she has to reintroduce such testing.

Damian Green: Management Information shows that the UK Border Agency carried out 2,735 language analysis tests on asylum cases between 2 February 2008 and 31 March 2010.
	Management Information also shows that during this period there were 52,531 principal asylum applications submitted. However, it is not possible to say definitely what proportion of those cases were subject to language analysis testing because some individuals who underwent testing will have submitted their asylum application before 2 February 2008.
	Please note that Management Information is not provided under National Statistics protocols and is therefore provisional and subject to change.
	The UK Border Agency is undertaking a review of language analysis techniques in order to assess costs and benefits. On conclusion of this review, a decision will be made on whether and how to resume the process.

Motoring: Fines

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much has been levied in fines for exceeding the average 50 mph on stretches of motorway where a 50 mph limit is in place on the basis of the average speed camera monitoring on  (a) Mondays to Fridays when road works were being undertaken and  (b) Saturdays and Sundays when road works are not taking place in the latest period for which figures are available.

James Brokenshire: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	Data on fixed penalty notices for speeding as well as data held by the Ministry of Justice on court issued speeding fines do not include information on the individual circumstances under which the fines were issued.

Passports: Biometrics

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effect on the number of jobs of the Government's policy not to proceed on the next phase of biometric passports.

Damian Green: holding answer 6 June 2010
	There is currently an ongoing process of restructuring in the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) to reflect cancelling of identity cards, the decision to halt Second Generation Biometric Passports and the IPS contribution to budget savings. IPS continues to work to finalise revised structures, consult trade union representatives and update and support those directly involved. So far we have announced that 60 temporary staff at our Durham office have been released three months earlier than expected.

Passports: Databases

Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what categories of information currently held on the National Identity Register she does not plan to hold on the UK Passport Database;
	(2)  what her plans are for the future of the UK Passport Database.

Theresa May: holding answer 9 June 2010
	The Identity Documents Bill presented to Parliament on 26 May 2010 confirms the commitment in the Coalition Agreement to scrap ID cards and destroy the National Identity Register. The information contained on the National Identity Register which is additional to that held on the UK passport database includes fingerprints, National Insurance Number, details from identity card applications, changes to names and address following issue of the document, and personal questions and answers allowing such changes to be made securely to an individual's entry on the National Identity Register. The 2006 Act provided for up to 50 pieces of personal information to be stored from each person on the National Identity Register.
	The existing UK passport database will continue to support the issuing of passports and to hold the same information as that currently requires.

Passports: EU Countries

Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward proposals to provide a cheaper and more compact alternative to the British passport for travel within the EU.

Theresa May: holding answer 14 June 2010
	We currently have no plans to provide an alternative to the British passport for travel within the EU.

Poaching

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to tackle poaching; and if she will consider the merits of establishing a task force on the issue.

James Brokenshire: Poaching can have a significant effect on our rural communities, and on the environment more generally. It is an issue that needs to be addressed by police forces at a local level.
	A network of Police Wildlife Crime Officers throughout the 43 forces in England and Wales provides the backbone to investigating wildlife and environmental crime, including poaching.
	Poaching is already one of the priorities of the National Wildlife Crime Unit, which exists to support police forces and their wildlife crime officers in their efforts against wildlife crime. It is funded by the Home Office and DEFRA, as well as the governments of Scotland and Northern Ireland, ACPO (the Association of Chief Police Officers) and ACPOS (ACPO Scotland).
	The National Wildlife Crime Unit's priorities are tackling badger baiting; CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora); Bird of prey persecution; Poaching; protecting nesting bats; and protecting freshwater pearl mussels. The Unit has a police officer dedicated to supporting the police forces of England and Wales in tackling poaching.
	There are already strict controls in force on the export from the UK of endangered animals and plants. These controls are based on EU legislation that implements the 1973 Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and requires all EU member states to impose CITES controls both at import and export. Any illegal CITES protected animals or plants intercepted at UK ports and airports are liable to seizure by Officers of the UK Border Agency.

Police: Manpower

Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the likely change to the number of police officer posts following the changes to her Department's budget announced on 24 May 2010.

Theresa May: holding answer 15 June 2010
	Decisions about the number of police officers, police community support officers and other police staff engaged by each force are matters for the relevant chief constable and police authority.
	The Home Office has protected the front line by finding most of the savings needed from its own budgets and those of its non-departmental public bodies. As I said in my written ministerial statement on 27 May 2010,  Official Report, columns 12-16WS, we are confident that the savings which amount to less than 1% of expected spending in 2010-11 can be made while maintaining a front line policing service. It is for each chief constable to use their expertise and decide what makes most sense for their force, but we are clear that the savings can be achieved by driving out wasteful spending on support functions, reducing bureaucracy and increasing efficiency in key functions; leaving the front line strong and secure.

South Africa: Football

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Crown Prosecution Service staff are being funded by her Department to attend the football World Cup final in South Africa; how much has been spent on  (a) travel,  (b) accommodation and  (c) other expenses for staff; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: A senior Crown Prosecutor, expert in UK football legislation, has been deployed in South Africa, with the English police delegation, for the duration of the England football team's involvement in the tournament. Their role is to liaise with South African authorities in accordance with an agreement with the South African Ministry of Justice. This has become standard practice since Euro 2004 when uncertainty regarding fast track judicial arrangements put in place for that tournament led to criticism, both in the media and courts here, about court verdicts on England fans convicted of violent disorder. As a result the European Union Handbook on International Police Co-operation for Football Matches recommends that participating countries should consider deploying prosecutors in host countries to assist liaison and clarity. The South African authorities have put in place comparable fast track criminal justice arrangements for dealing with foreign offenders during the 2010 World Cup.
	A key role of the Crown Prosecutor in South Africa will be to provide authoritative witness statements regarding the judicial process and the strength of any evidence presented against any England fan convicted in a South African court. This will assist the police and courts here to determine whether or not football banning orders should be sought against the individuals convicted on their return. The Home Office is funding the prosecutor's travel, accommodation and expense costs. I will write to the hon. Member once the final costs are known.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

British Overseas Territories: Overseas Aid

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid he plans to provide to each UK Overseas Territory in 2010-11.

Andrew Mitchell: The following funding allocations are those agreed under the previous Government for each UK Overseas Territory in 2010-11:
	
		
			   £ 
			 St Helena 28,580,000 
			 Montserrat 23,260,000 
			 Pitcairn 3,260,000 
			 Tristan da Cunha 450,000 
			 Turks and Caicos Islands 750,000 
			 Cross Territory 2,700,000 
			 Total 59,000,000 
		
	
	As with all Government spending plans, these are subject to review.

Departmental Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the URL is of each website managed by  (a) his Department and  (b) each non-departmental public body and agency for which his Department is responsible.

Andrew Mitchell: We are currently working to consolidate websites managed by the Department for International Development (DFID).
	DFID manages one corporate site
	www.dfid.gov.uk
	which has three subdomains
	http://blogs.dfid.gov.uk
	http://projects.dfid.gov.uk
	and
	http://consultation.dfid.gov.uk
	In addition we own research for development (R4D)
	http://www.research4development.info/
	and the website for the Developments magazine
	http://www.developments.org.uk/
	both of which are managed under contract and will converge on the main site in due course.
	DFID also has responsibility for the Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact
	http://iacdi.independent.gov.uk/
	whose future is under review.
	The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC)
	http://www.cscuk.org.uk/
	is DFID's only non-departmental public body (NDPB).

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the use by Ministers in his Department of cars allocated from  (a) his Department's pool and  (b) the Government car pool which are manufactured in the UK; whether Ministers in his Department are entitled to request the use of a car manufactured in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Mitchell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) on 14 June 2010,  O fficial Report, column 291W, on departmental official cars.

Developing Countries: Children

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to continue the previous Administration's work to publish and disseminate a toolkit on inclusive education for children with disabilities in developing countries.

Andrew Mitchell: In "The Coalition: our programme for government", the Government committed to
	"focus on the rights of women, children and disabled people to access services"
	in developing countries. We are taking that agenda forward.
	We will shortly be issuing a Guidance Note on inclusive education for children with disabilities in developing countries, developed with practitioners and experts in this field. This will be disseminated to country offices, development partners and international non-governmental organisations and will be available on the DFID website.

Developing Countries: Climate Change

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress his Department has made on developing guidance with the multilateral development banks to screen development expenditure for climate risks; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) is working closely with the multilateral development banks (MDBs) to ensure their development expenditure takes account of the risks posed by climate change. We use our financial resources, policy expertise and position as a shareholder to achieve this. For example, DFID has provided technical assistance to the MDBs to support research on the risks of climate change in developing countries, and to help governments factor these into national strategies and programmes. The Government have also been a strong voice in calling for each MDB to have a climate change strategy, agreed with their shareholders. We are working to ensure that the targets and commitments in these strategies are met, including through regular discussions with MDB staff and at the executive board of the MDBs. We are also working to ensure that projects supported by the MDBs can deliver sustainable development gains in the context of a changing climate. For example, DFID funds the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience, which aims to generate lessons to improve MDBs approach to adaptation and sustainable development in poor countries.

Developing Countries: Fossil Fuels

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on overseas projects for the extraction and transport of fossil fuels through  (a) the World Bank Group,  (b) the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,  (c) the European Investment Bank and  (d) other Government-funded financial institutions in the last five years.

Andrew Mitchell: In the past five years, the Department for International Development (DFID) has not given earmarked funds to the multilateral development banks (MDBs) expressly for investments in projects for the extraction and transportation of fossil fuels.
	DFID has provided capital and funding for the MDBs work which have been pooled with resources from other shareholders and donors. The banks have supported some fossil fuel extraction and transport projects using these common resources and have provided the following information on the value of commitments to such projects made in the years 2005-09:
	
		
			   US$ million 
			 World Bank Group(1) 3,609 
			 EBRD 861 
			 EIB 94 
			 Other(2) 1,402 
			 (1) World Bank Group includes International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Development Association and International Finance Corporation (2) Other includes the African, Asian, InterAmerican and Caribbean Development Bank Groups, CDC and the Private Infrastructure Development Group.

EU Aid

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department's budget is spent through direct payments to the European Union; and what steps he is taking to ensure the value for money of such expenditure.

Andrew Mitchell: In 2008-09 20% of Department for International Development (DFID) expenditure was spent in direct payments to the European Union (EU). These funds were managed by the European Commission (EC). I have recently set out details of DFID's review of all funding of international agencies including the EC. This review will test each organisation to ensure the UK is getting maximum value from its aid money. This will include an assessment of the relevance of each body to the UK's objectives on poverty reduction and their ability to deliver results on the ground.

Museums and Galleries: Finance

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding programmes for galleries and museums in the UK he plans to reduce in  (a) 2010-11 and  (b) 2011-12.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) has no programmes that provide funding for galleries or museums.

St Helena: Airports

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to provide funding for an airport on St Helena.

Andrew Mitchell: We are currently considering the question of access to St Helena. I will inform the House of any decision that is made.

TRANSPORT

HGV Charging

Nigel Mills: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the merits of revising the system for heavy goods vehicle road user charging.

Philip Hammond: The Coalition Programme for Government, commits us to the introduction of a new system of HGV road user charging to ensure that foreign heavy goods vehicles contribute to the upkeep of UK roads that they use and ensure a more level playing field with UK hauliers.

Heathrow Airport

Gavin Barwell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the merits of expanding capacity at Heathrow airport; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: We recognise the importance of Heathrow as the country's international hub airport and a vital part of our national transport infrastructure. Our vision for Heathrow is to make it better, not bigger, and I shall be pursuing this through the South East airports taskforce announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in his written ministerial statement on 15 June 2010,  Official Report, column 48WS.

Heathrow Airport

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that slots at Heathrow for flights from UK regional airports are retained.

Theresa Villiers: We recognise the importance of air services from UK regional airports and the role they play in local economies. However, there are difficult questions here that need careful consideration since airlines face competitive pressure to use their slots for routes which are the most commercial.

Speed Cameras

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's plans are for the future funding of fixed speed cameras; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: The Government will not provide any money to local authorities to put up new fixed speed cameras. If authorities want to put up new fixed cameras they are free to do so using their own resources. We strongly encourage authorities to put resources into the most effective road safety measures.

Traffic Congestion: Glossop and Tintwistle

Andrew Bingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will prioritise funding for a solution to traffic congestion in Glossop and Tintwistle.

Norman Baker: In his written ministerial statement to the House on 10 June 2010,  Official Report, column 35WS, regarding major schemes the Secretary of State for Transport made it clear that the Department will not be able to identify those major investments that can be supported until the conclusion of the Government's spending review in the autumn.
	Therefore at this time I am afraid that I cannot provide any assurances on funding for a solution to traffic congestion in Glossop and Tintwistle.

Tyne and Wear Metro

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to proceed with the proposed upgrade of the Tyne and Wear Metro.

Norman Baker: The Tyne and Wear Metro upgrade has been re-examined following the announcement by the Chief Secretary on 17 May to review spending approval granted since 1 January this year.

High Speed 2

Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to consult those whose property is affected by the preferred route for High Speed 2.

Philip Hammond: The Government are committed to carrying out a full public consultation before any final decision is taken regarding the route of any new high speed line.

Community Railways Initiative: North West

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has for the future of community rail partnerships in the North West.

Theresa Villiers: We recognise the valuable work done by community rail partnerships. We look to train operators and communities in the north-west to progress practical and innovative ideas for supporting local railways, including improvements to stations and links to them.

Electric Vehicles

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the merits of designating electric vehicle charging points as regulated assets.

Norman Baker: The coalition agreement set out a commitment to mandate a national charging network for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Achieving this via the regulated asset base is one approach. We are considering a full range of options, but no decisions have yet been taken.

Transport: North West

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what applications for grants from  (a) Wigan metropolitan borough council and  (b) other local authorities in the North West region are under consideration by his Department.

Norman Baker: In November 2007 Wigan Metropolitan borough council were awarded funding of £400,000 for both 2009-10 and 2010-11 to carry out bridge strengthening on their roads. They subsequently requested that this funding be increased by £750,000 due to increases in the cost estimates for works on the Atherton Central Station Bridge.
	Sefton borough council have made an application to increase the funding awarded to them in February 2009 to carry out maintenance on the detrunked A565 and have sought funding to support maintenance on the A5058 Miller's Bridge.
	The Department for Transport officials' contacts with both authorities regarding their requests are continuing.
	This Department is considering a claim submitted for £5.3 million by Cumbria county council for funding towards the costs of carrying out repairs to damage to their local highways caused by the flooding in November 2009.
	All local highway authorities in England have been advised of their allocation from the £84 million funding to assist them to repair their roads damaged by this winter's severe weather. Authorities have been requested to confirm that they accept the terms and conditions of the grant. The confirmation is to be accompanied by supporting documentation to show that the relevant delegated authority exist to accept the terms and condition of the grant.
	The Department is not currently considering any funding bids for local authority major schemes and will not be doing so at least until the conclusion of the spending review.

Transport: Worcestershire

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the amount of funding for transport provided to Worcestershire county council will remain at the planned level of £46 million to 2016; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The amount of funding provided to Worcestershire county council by the Department for Transport is subject to the Spending Review. This will conclude in the autumn, and will set spending limits for every Government department for the period 2011-12 to 2014-15.

Wigan

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what grants his Department has allocated to Wigan metropolitan borough council in each of the last five years.

Norman Baker: Details of grants allocated to Wigan metropolitan borough council by the Department for Transport for the past five years can be found on the DFT website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/localauthorities/funding/fundingstreams/
	In addition, a proportion of the £13.5 million cost of the Greater Manchester wide Urban Traffic Control major scheme has been spent in Wigan, and the following cycling training grants have been allocated to Wigan metropolitan borough council in the past five years:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2007-08 14,343 
			 2008-09 20,160 
			 2009-10 48,000 
			 2010-11 60,000

JUSTICE

Coroners: Children

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many inquests into child deaths were delayed due to staff shortages in each coroner's district in the last five years;
	(2)  what the average time was between the death of a child and a post mortem examination being carried out in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice does not centrally collect or hold the requested data and could provide it only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the URL is of each website managed by  (a) his Department and  (b) each non-departmental public body and agency for which his Department is responsible.

Jonathan Djanogly: The URL of the departmental website for the Ministry of Justice is:
	www.justice.gov.uk
	The following list gives other websites managed by Ministry of Justice and its non-departmental public bodies and agencies as at June 2010. The Ministry of Justice is committed to a programme of website rationalisation in line with the recommendations of the Varney review, and this will result in a reduction in the number of these websites. The Ministry aims to have no more than 20 websites remaining in use by 31 March 2011.
	 URLs of websites managed by the Ministry of Justice and its non-departmental public bodies and agencies-June 2010.
	www.30yearrulereview.org.uk
	www.adjudicationpanel.tribunals.gov.uk
	www.administrativeappeals.tribunals.gov.uk
	www.adr.civiljusticecouncil.gov.uk
	www.ahmlr.gov.uk
	www.ajtc.gov.uk
	www.appeals-service.gov.uk
	www.appsi.gov.uk
	www.asylum-support-tribunal.gov.uk
	www.belfast-gazette.co.uk
	www.carestandardstribunal.gov.uk
	www.ccrc.gov.uk
	www.charity.tribunals.gov.uk
	www.cica.gov.uk
	www.cicap.gov.uk
	www.civiljusticecouncil.gov.uk
	www.cjsonline.gov.uk
	www.cjsss.cjsonline.gov.uk
	www.claimsregulation.gov.uk
	www.cofrestrfatir.gov.uk
	www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk
	www.consumercreditappeals.tribunals.gov.uk
	www.costsdebate.civiljusticecouncil.gov.uk
	www.courtfunds.gov.uk
	www.dspdprogramme.gov.uk
	www.edinburgh-gazette.gov.uk
	www.employmentappeals.gov.uk
	www.employmenttribunals.gov.uk
	www.estateagentappeals.tribunals.gov.uk
	www.estudo.co.uk/jsb/
	www.familyjusticecouncil.org.uk
	www.fhsaa.tribunals.gov.uk
	www.frontline.cjsonline.gov.uk
	www.gamblingappealstribunal.gov.uk
	www.gazettes-online.co.uk
	www.generalcommissioners.gov.uk
	www.grp.gov.uk
	www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk
	www.hmica.gov.uk
	www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk
	www.ico.gov.uk
	www.imb.gov.uk
	www.immigrationservicestribunal.gov.uk
	www.independent.gov.uk/azellerodneyinquiry/
	www.independent.gov.uk/7julyinquests/
	www.independent.gov.uk/iapdeathsincustody/
	www.informationtribunal.gov.uk
	www.jcpc.gov.uk
	www.jsboard.co.uk
	www.judicialappointments.gov.uk
	www.judicialcomplaints.gov.uk
	www.judicialombudsman.gov.uk
	www.judiciary.gov.uk
	www.juror.cjsonline.gov.uk
	www.justice.gov.uk
	www.justice.gov.uk/inspectorates/hmi-prisons/
	www.justice.gov.uk/inspectorates/hmi-probation/
	http://justiceawards.cjsonline.gov.uk
	www.landregistry.gov.uk
	www.landstribunal.gov.uk
	www.lawcom.gov.uk
	www.lcjb.cjsonline.gov.uk
	www.legalaid60.org.uk
	www.legalombudsman.org.uk/
	www.legalservices.gov.uk
	www.legalservicesboard.org.uk
	www.legalservicesprovidertraining.co.uk
	www.legislation.gov.uk
	www.london-gazette.gov.uk
	www.lsrc.org.uk
	www.maps.cjsonline.gov.uk
	www.mhrt.org.uk
	www.moneyclaim.gov.uk
	www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
	www.officeforlegalcomplaints.org.uk/
	www.official-documents.gov.uk
	www.olso.org
	www.opsi.gov.uk
	www.oqps.gov.uk
	www.osscsc.gov.uk
	www.paroleboard.gov.uk
	www.partyfundingreview.gov.uk
	www.pensionsappealtribunals.gov.uk
	www.possessionclaim.gov.uk
	www.ppo.gov.uk
	www.privycouncil.org.uk
	www.probation.justice.gov.uk
	http://procurement.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/
	www.publicguardian.gov.uk
	www.reserveforcesappeal.tribunals.gov.uk
	www.scottbaker-inquests.gov.uk
	www.sendist.gov.uk
	www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk
	www.sentencingcouncilmembers.co.uk
	www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk
	www.siac.tribunals.gov.uk
	www.siac.tribunals.gov.uk/poac
	www.statutelaw.gov.uk
	www.supremecourt.gov.uk
	www.transporttribunal.gov.uk
	www.tribunals.gov.uk
	www.victimscommissioner.org.uk
	www.ybtj.cjsonline.gov.uk
	www.yjb.gov.uk

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) special advisers and  (b) press officers are employed by his Department; and at what civil service pay grade in each such case.

Kenneth Clarke: I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's written ministerial statement on 10 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 32-34WS. As of 10 June 2010 there have been two special advisers employed by the Ministry of Justice, one at band 1 and one at band 2.
	As of June 2010, there were 40 press officers employed by the Ministry of Justice. Of these 24 were band C, nine were band B, six were band A, and one is SCS.

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy is on the use by Ministers in his Department of cars allocated from  (a) his Department's pool and  (b) the Government car pool which are manufactured in the UK; whether Ministers in his Department are entitled to request the use of a car manufactured in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) on 14 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 290-91W.

Departmental Reviews

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2010,  Official Report, column 137W, on Government Departments: reviews, what reviews his Department is undertaking; and what the  (a) purpose and  (b) timescale of each is.

Kenneth Clarke: As outlined in the coalition agreement and following the normal practice of Government Departments on developing policy proposals, my Department will:
	examine the sentencing framework in order to ensure that sentencing policy is effective in deterring crime, protecting the public, punishing offenders and cutting reoffending;
	develop an approach to legal aid which balances financial constraints with the wider public interest;
	review libel laws in order to provide a proper balance between the protection of freedom of speech and the defence of individuals against defamation; and
	establish a Commission to investigate the creation of a Bill of Rights in order to protect and extend liberties.
	In addition my Department is:
	reviewing its arm's length bodies in order to increase accountability and reduce the number and cost of public bodies;
	considering the judicial appointments process in order to improve the timeliness and quality of the end-to-end appointments process; and
	supporting David Norgrove, who will undertake an independent review of family justice, examining how the current system can be reformed to better support children and parents.
	I will bring forward more detailed policy proposals about these areas in due course.

Feltham Young Offender Institution and Remand Centre

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many complaints made by children about the quality or quantity of the food in Feltham Young Offenders' Institution were received in the last 12 months.

Crispin Blunt: From June 2009 until June 2010 there were seven formal complaints to staff from young people about the quality or quantity of food in HMYOI Feltham.

Homicide: Sentencing

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what powers he has in relation to  (a) recommending and  (b) amending minimum life sentences for offenders convicted of murder.

Crispin Blunt: There are no powers for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to recommend a minimum term under a life sentence imposed for murder. The determination of the minimum term is the responsibility of the judge in all cases.
	There is a residual power under section 103 of the Children Act 1906 to amend the minimum term imposed under a sentence of detention at Her Majesty's Pleasure, the mandatory sentence imposed for murder where the offender was under the age of 18 when the offence was committed. Under such a sentence, once half of the minimum term has been served the offender can apply for a review of the tariff. The review is conducted by the High Court and, in practice, the Secretary of State honours the recommendation made by the court in all cases.

Ministerial Visits

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  which probation services Ministers in his Department have visited since their appointment;
	(2)  which prisons each of the Ministers in his Department has visited since their appointment.

Crispin Blunt: I am the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State responsible for the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) which covers prison and probation services.
	I have visited the following prisons and probation services since my appointment:
	 Prisons
	HMP Wormwood Scrubs, London, 20 May 2010
	HMP Frankland, Durham, 28 May 2010
	HMP Coldingley, Woking, 4 June 2010
	HMP Feltham, Feltham, 19 June 2010.
	 Probation services
	Community Payback Site, London, 20 May 2010
	Hammersmith and Fulham Probation Office, London, 20 May 2010
	Durham Tees Valley Probation Office, Darlington, 27 May 2010
	Surrey Youth Justice, Woking, 4 June 2010.
	Hammersmith and Fulham Youth Offending Team, 10 June 2010.
	No other Ministers in the Ministry of Justice have visited a prison or probation services since appointment.

Prison Sentences

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) men and  (b) women have been received into prison each year on indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPPs) since IPPs were introduced.

Crispin Blunt: The following table gives the reception figures of prisoners on indeterminate sentences for public protection in all prison establishments in England and Wales in each year since 2005 when they first came into effect:
	
		
			  Annual receptions( 1)  of prisoners on indeterminate sentences for public protection, in England and Wales 
			   2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Total 420 1,570 1,747 1,315 
			 Male 400 1,530 1,704 1,277 
			 Female 20 40 43 38 
			 (1) Excludes police cells.  Note: Indeterminate sentences for public protection came into effect on 5 April 2005. 
		
	
	The figures can be found in the published Offender Management Caseload Statistics, Table 6.17, a copy of which can be found in the Libraries of both Houses and which can be found at the following website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonandprobation.htm
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prison Sentences: Wales

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many men of  (a) between 15 and 17,  (b) between 18 and 20 and  (c) over 20 years were sentenced to custody by courts in Wales in the last 10 years.

Crispin Blunt: The requested information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Males sentenced to a custodial sentence( 1)  in Welsh criminal justice areas( 2) , by age, 1998  to  2008 
			   1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008( 3,4) 
			  Immediate C ustody
			 Age 15 to 17 443 481 424 369 368 349 380 323 373 269 261 
			 Age 18 to 20 1,073 1,155 1,077 1,134 1,055 906 1,002 890 852 838 832 
			 21 and over 4,054 4,262 4,074 4,197 4,404 4,062 4,396 4,162 3,734 3,697 4,125 
			 Total 5,570 5,898 5,575 5,700 5,827 5,317 5,778 5,375 4,959 4,804 5,218 
			 
			  Suspended Sentence Order
			 Age 15 to 17 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Age 18 to 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 45 292 393 367 
			 21 and over 219 207 181 203 173 160 177 553 1,766 2,239 1,913 
			 Total 219 207 181 203 173 160 177 598 2,058 2,632 2,280 
			 n/a = Not applicable. Suspended sentence orders are only available for offenders aged 18 and over. (1) Includes both immediate and suspended custodial sentences. (2) In this table sentences at the Crown court are categorised according to the police force that prosecuted the offence which is not necessarily the area of the sentencing court. Sentences may be given at a court outside the prosecuting police force's area. Those prosecutions brought by agencies other than the police are categorised according to the criminal justice area of the sentencing court. As part of the rollout of the Libra case management system in magistrates courts during 2008, a change was made to the categorisation by area. Sentences given at courts using the Libra system are categorised according to the criminal justice area of the court while others are categorised in the same way as the Crown court. By the end of 2008, all magistrates courts were using Libra. Police forces do not prosecute minor offences (those that are sentenced at magistrates courts) outside their areas. Only around 0.01% of sentences at magistrates courts were affected in 2007 and 2008. (3) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July, and August 2008. (4) Following the introduction of the Libra case management system during 2008, offenders at magistrates courts can now be recorded as sex 'Not Stated' as well as 'Male', 'Female', or 'Other'. In 2008 1.5% of offenders sentenced were recorded as sex 'Not Stated'. Direct comparisons by gender may be no longer be valid.  Notes: 1. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. 2. These data have been taken from the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings database. These data are presented on the principal offence basis. Where an offender has been sentenced for more than one offence the principal offence is the one for which the heaviest sentence was imposed. Where the same sentence has been imposed for two or more offences the principal offence is the one for which the statutory maximum is most severe.  Source: Justice Statistics-Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice

Probation

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has for the future of the Critical Public Protection Case Notification Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: I have decided to continue to operate the Critical Public Protection Case Notification Scheme and have recently written to all Members, inviting them to receive information about the release of particular offenders into their constituencies. The scheme allows for Members to be informed of the robust arrangements in place to manage those offenders on their release from custody and to make further enquiries. As the vast majority of such offenders are released initially into Approved Premises, formerly known as probation and bail hostels, notifications will mostly be sent to Members with an Approved Premises in their constituencies.

Rape

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many victims of rape in England and Wales whose cases resulted in a conviction in each of the last five years were aged  (a) under 18 and  (b) under 25 years at the time of the attack.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice does not hold centrally, details of the age of the victim other than where the offence is specified separately in law. I can therefore provide details of the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for rape (including attempted rape) of persons aged (i) under 13, (ii) under 16 and (iii) 16 and over, England and Wales 2004 to 2008 (latest available), which are shown in the following table.
	Court proceedings data for 2009 are planned for publication in October 2010.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts of rape( 1, 2) , England and Wales 2004-08( 3, 4, 5) 
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			  Offence description  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			 Rape and attempted rape of a person aged under 13 84 7 237 74 285 124 300 134 317 179 
			 Rape and attempted rape of a person under 16 1,124 351 963 320 815 292 720 300 611 294 
			 Rape and attempted rape of a person aged 16 and over 1,481 393 1,626 402 1,467 447 1,343 439 1,467 449 
			 Total 2,689 751 2,826 796 2,567 863 2,363 873 2,395 922 
			 (1) Includes: Rape and Attempted rape of a female or male. (2) Includes: Conspiracies, charges of participation in offences as accessories after the fact and charges of participation in offences by impeding the apprehension or prosecution of the offender. (3) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (5) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July, and August 2008.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.

Rape: Defendants Anonymity

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which  (a) organisations and  (b) individuals have informed his Department that they are in favour of anonymity for rape defendants; and if he will make a statement.

Kenneth Clarke: As of 15 June 2010, our records show that no organisation had informed the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) that it favoured this proposal and no organisation had informed the Ministry that it opposed the proposal. Three correspondents have written to the Department in support of the proposal. It would not be appropriate to release their names.

Rape: Defendants Anonymity

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library a copy of each piece of written evidence he considered before deciding to bring forward proposals to extend anonymity to defendants in rape trials.

Crispin Blunt: The Director of Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice has been asked to compile all the available research and statistics relating to this issue into an independent report and publish this before summer recess.

Rape: Defendants Anonymity

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what meetings he has had with  (a) members of the judiciary and  (b) organisations representing victims of crime on proposals to grant anonymity to defendants in rape cases.

Kenneth Clarke: I have as yet had no such meetings.

Reoffenders

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of integrated offender management schemes in reducing levels of re-offending.

Crispin Blunt: Integrated offender management (IOM) is developing locally as a partnership approach to the management and rehabilitation of offenders who cause the greatest harm in their area. Currently there is limited direct evidence to assess the effectiveness of IOM in reducing levels of reoffending, although it builds on offender based approaches such as local prolific and other priority offender schemes and the Drug Interventions Programme, for which there is positive indicative evidence of their impact on re-offending. Feedback from areas suggests that IOM has been effective in generating partnership working in responding to offenders needs.

Reoffenders

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding he has allocated to commence new integrated offender management schemes in  (a) 2010-11 and  (b) 2011-12; and how many such schemes he expects will commence in each of those years.

Crispin Blunt: Integrated offender management is a locally led strategic approach to managing offenders and as such the Ministry has not allocated any direct funding to commence new integrated offender management approaches in 2010-11 or in 2011-12. We are aware that some funding for integrated offender management approaches has been provided locally.
	As IOM is a local strategic approach, the pace of development of IOM will be by agreement between local partners and will develop at different rates in different areas. All probation trusts without an IOM approach report that one is planned or being developed.

Reoffenders

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what integrated offender management schemes were operating in England and Wales as at 1 May 2010.

Crispin Blunt: Six pioneer areas that have operated IOM over the last two financial years are continuing to deliver IOM without continuing central support. (Avon and Somerset, Lancashire, London, Nottinghamshire, West Midlands and West Yorkshire)
	Recent inquiries of probation trusts by the MOJ revealed that the majority of areas are adopting an IOM approach with the remaining areas planning to adopt such an approach.

Sentencing Guidelines Council

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his plans are for the future of the Sentencing Guidelines Council; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: The Sentencing Guidelines Council was abolished on 6 April 2010 and was replaced on the same date by the Sentencing Council for England and Wales. The Council has an important role in ensuring consistency of sentencing and I am looking forward to working with the Council.

Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's announcement of 24 May 2010 and pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2010,  Official Report, column 69W, on public expenditure: Wales, if he will provide details of his Department's non-devolved public expenditure savings that will be incurred in Wales, including an estimate of the financial savings.

Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice have identified £325 million in year savings to contribute to the £6.2 billion across Government. Each area of the Department is contributing to the delivery of these savings (including arm's length bodies). These savings will be achieved by reducing discretionary spend, reducing capital and IT spend and stopping or deferring planned change programmes. When identifying these savings we have sought to ensure that they will not adversely affect services.
	None of the major MoJ capital projects that are being deferred are based in Wales. Some of the reductions in discretionary spend, ICT and recruitment spend will be proportionately allocated to services in Wales.